Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited the renowned Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok, located around 30 kilometres south of Bikaner, Rajasthan.
The temple, dedicated to Goddess Karni Mata, regarded as an incarnation of Maa Jagdamba, is one of India’s most unique religious sites, famous for its sacred population of black rats known as kabbas.
Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal warmly received PM Modi upon his arrival.
Temple authorities welcomed the Prime Minister with a replica of the temple, and he offered prasad and a donation at the sanctum.
Karni Mata Temple stands out for its estimated 20,000 to 25,000 black rats that roam freely within the shrine.
Devotees regard these rats as holy and consider them symbols of good fortune.
Visitors often see them scurrying across the marble floors or climbing on devotees, an experience considered sacred.
Devotees view the sighting of a rare white rat among them as an auspicious omen.
To ensure the safety of these sacred animals from predators, a fine mesh covers the open areas of the temple.
The authorities have recently redeveloped the premises, adding intricate marble carvings, silver doors, golden umbrellas, and a specially crafted silver plate to feed the rats.
The temple also preserves the original cave where devotees believe Karni Mata meditated 650 years ago.
This was PM Modi’s first visit to Rajasthan following India’s military strikes on terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on 7 May.
The visit included the inauguration of the newly developed Deshnok Railway Station, part of 103 Amrit Stations launched nationwide under the Amrit Bharat Yojana.
He also flagged off the Bikaner-Mumbai Express train and addressed a massive public gathering at Palana village near Bikaner.
The event saw the launch and foundation laying of development projects worth ₹26,000 crore.
These include 1,000 km of electrified railway lines, seven national highway projects, three underpasses, a PowerGrid transmission initiative, and over 900 km of highway works in Rajasthan.
PM Modi’s visit to the temple and subsequent public engagements were seen as both symbolic and strategic.
His presence at the revered site reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting religious tourism and preserving cultural heritage.
His emphasis on infrastructure development is also expected to stimulate the local economy and enhance connectivity across the state.
The Prime Minister concluded his visit with a return to Nal Airport by helicopter around 12:30 p.m. and departed for Delhi shortly thereafter, ending a powerful and impactful visit to the desert state.
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