CHANDIGARGH, INDIA, September 27, 2006: The Seetha Eliya Temple (Ashok Vatika), where Goddess Sita was kept in captivity by Ravana located in the Central Province in Sri Lanka, will soon have Deities of Hindu Gods from the Punjab. The Sri Lankan Central Province Minister, V. Radhakrishnan, says both countries are currently in discussions to promote religious tourism to the temple. Radhakrishnan will collect the Deities at the end of a spiritual function held in Banga on Wednesday. The Deities are being donated by Ashok Kanth, the director of Pizza Hut, Kuwait, and originally from the Punjab. Mr. Radhakrishnan, who is also a temple trustee, said over 5,000 people come to the temple every week to worship. Besides being the place where Goddess Sita was kept by Ravana, Radhakrishnan said the temple site also has footmarks of Lord Hanuman. He said the temple site was being renovated with voluntary donations from India and Sri Lanka. BJP’s Harjit Singh Grewal said the process would strengthen religious and cultural ties between the two countries.
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