Sikkim to Gift Land for Three Marwari Temples

Gangtok: Sikkim will hand over land for three new temples. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang broke the news on September 23. He spoke at the 135th Foundation Day for the Sikkim Marwari Samaj held at Manan Kendra in Gangtok. Governor Om Prakash Mathur attended the event.

The state wants to build shrines for Holika Dahan, Shyam Baba, and Pahadi Mata. Communities must pick the spots first. Once they propose locations, the government will provide the land. Tamang said the Marwari community shaped the state through trade and commerce since its early days.

He touted their work in business and charity. He called their story a guide for future progress. "The Marwari community would continue to play a role in the state's growth and development," Tamang said. The government already gives the group tax exemptions and spots in urban local governance. Officials also gave Rs 1 crore to the Marwari Dharamshala in Gangtok. The state now recognizes them as one of 21 official Sikkimese communities. Leaders even made Holi a state-level holiday.