Dhanbad: Chief minister, Raghubar Das on Saturday declared that his government would organise the annual function at Lugu Buru Ghanta Bari on a large scale and grant it the status of a state event.

Das was speaking at the 17th All India Santhal Socio and Sarna Religious Conference at Lugu Buru Ghanta Bari in Gomia block about 75km from Bokaro on Saturday.

The conference and a two-day festival is organised annually by tribal organisations at Lugu Buru Ghanta Bari, where tribal religious guru Lugu Buru and his men spent 12 years. The event attracts people from various parts of the country including Odisha, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala to the tribal hamlet.

Speaking on the occasion Das revealed his government's plans to provide a major facelift to the area.

"The streetlights will be based on solar energy and waiting sheds will also be constructed on the hilly way leading to the temple for the convenience of the people visiting the places from various parts of the country" said Das.

The chief minister who arrived at Lugu Buru Ghanta Bari at around 2pm offered prayers before addressing people, said the state government will go all out to promote tribal culture, language and tradition in Jharkhand. He also rubbished rumours regarding government plans of setting up a defence ministry research centre at the Lugu hills.

Earlier, former chief minister Hemant Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha also offered puja at the Lugu Buru Ghanta Bari temple and demanded that the state government should develop the place.

Gomia MLA Yogendra Prasad also donated five ambulance to various NGOs working.

The legend of Lugu Buru, dates back to an era before Christ. Santhals consider Lugu Buru as their earliest ancestor and believe he possessed divine powers, allowing him to take on any form and that he resides in the hills of the region.