Online Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the new parliament building and installed the sacred “Sengol” in the Lok Sabha chamber. He was accompanied by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Adheenam seers handed over to PM Modi the “Sengol”, that was accepted by the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru at his residence on the night of August 14, 1947. PM Modi prostrated before the “Sengol” as a mark of respect to mark the beginning of the inauguration of the new parliament building, Time Of India reports.

He also sought blessings from priests of various adheenams with the holy sceptre in hand. Arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha while 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the parliament. The joint session of both houses will be held in the Lok Sabha chamber.

PM Modi had laid the foundation stone of the new parliament building on December 10, 2020.

PM honours workers who built new Parliament
Dedicating the new parliament building to the nation, PM Modi honoured workers who built it in record time. The prime minister felicitated the construction workers with traditional shawls and handed over mementoes. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the prime minister will honour 60,000 workers (shram yogis) at the inauguration.

PM Modi, LS speaker perform ‘havan’
The prime minister, along with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, performed a “havan” for the new parliament building. Priests from adheenams in Tamil Nadu offered flowers to the historic sceptre “Sengol” as PM Modi performed havan to mark inauguration of new Parliament building.

Congratulatory messages to PM Modi
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan on Saturday congratulated PM Modi ahead of the new parliament building inauguration.

Sharing a video showcasing the Parliament building, the actor posted on Twitter: “What a magnificent new home for the people who uphold our constitution, represent every citizen of this great nation and protect the diversity of her one People @narendramodi ji. A new parliament building for a new India but with the age-old dream of Glory for India. Jai Hind! #MyParliamentMyPride.”Akshay Kumar too posted congratulatory messages. Taking to Twitter, he said: “Proud to see this glorious new building of the parliament. May this forever be an iconic symbol of India’s growth story. #MyParliamentMyPride.” Music composer Ilaiyaraaja and actor Rajinikanth also posted congratulatory messages on the new parliament building.

New parliament building a temple of democracy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described the new parliament building as a “temple of democracy” and wished that it continues to strengthen India’s development trajectory and empower millions.

On Friday, PM Modi had said the new parliament building will make every Indian proud, as he posted a video of the newly-constructed complex on Twitter and urged people to share it on the social media platform with the hashtag ‘MyParliamentMyPride’.

PM Modi’s meeting with Adheenams at his residence
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met Adheenams at his residence and took their blessings a day before he inaugurates the new parliament building. The Adheenams, who arrived from Tamil Nadu earlier in the day, handed him special gifts including “Sengols”. Sengol and it’s importance “Sengol”, a historical sceptre from Tamil Nadu, was given by the British to first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to represent the transfer of power.

Addressing a press conference earlier this week, Amit Shah said “Sengol” symbolizes the transfer of power from British to India, just as it was originally used to mark the handing over power from one king to another during the Chola dynasty in Tamil Nadu. “Sengol” is a word derived from the Tamil word “Semmai”, meaning “righteousness”.

The historical sceptre was made of silver, coated with gold coated, and crowned with the sacred Nandi, with its unyielding gaze. The Nandi on top of the “Sengol” is symbol of “nyaya”.