Jalalabad in UP is now Parshurampuri as Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet has given a nod | Today’s news
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has approved a proposal to rename the town of Jalalabad in Shahjahanpur district as Parshurampuri, the latest in a series of local name changes by the state government.
According to Times of Indiathe decision was made at a government meeting on Sunday. The renamed municipality will also be known as Parshurampuri Nagar Palika Parishad, replacing the existing Jalalabad Nagar Palika Parishad.
The renaming proposal was under consideration for several years and received the approval of the Union government in August 2025 after the Uttar Pradesh government forwarded its recommendation to the home ministry. The demand to rename the city is based on the belief that Jalalabad is the birthplace of Lord Parshuram, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The city is home to the ancient Parshuram temple and several sites associated with the deity, and proponents of the move have long argued that the city’s name should reflect its religious and cultural significance.
The city council passed a resolution in favor of the name change in 2018 and again in 2023. The proposal was later forwarded by the Shahjahanpur district administration to the state government before being sent to the center for approval. Union minister Jitin Prasada, who hails from the region, also supported the move and thanked the Union government after the home ministry approved the proposal.
Jalalabad was founded during the Mughal period and is believed to have derived its name from Emperor Akbar, whose name was Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar. However, in recent years, the Uttar Pradesh government has been trying to promote the city as an important religious destination associated with Lord Parshuram. Construction works, including beautification of the temple complex and nearby water bodies, have been carried out to promote religious tourism in the area.
The decision is the latest in a series of renaming exercises in Uttar Pradesh under the Yogi Adityanath government. Earlier, cities and districts like Allahabad and Faizabad were officially renamed as Prayagraj and Ayodhya. Proponents have described such changes as efforts to restore the historical and cultural identity of places, while critics have questioned the need for renaming exercises instead of prioritizing development issues.
