By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 21 Apr: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated, today, in the launch programme of “Rishikesh to Char Dham Yatra – 2023” organised by Joint Rotation Travel Arrangement Committee at ISBT, Rishikesh. On this occasion, he welcomed the pilgrims going to Char Dham by garlanding them and also flagged off the buses full of pilgrims for the yatra. Dhami also distributed the relief kit being provided by Hans Foundation to the drivers, conductors and devotees on this occasion.
The CM, while welcoming all the devotees, said that he will pray to Baba Kedar, Badri Vishal, Maa Gangotri and Maa Yamnotri that, like last year, this year too the Char Dham Yatra is completed safely in a joyous manner. He said that the government is confident that this year’s Char Dham Yatra will break all its previous records. The state government is determined to ensure a safe Char Dham Yatra. The preparations are being constantly reviewed by the government at every level. It will be the endeavour of the government to ensure that every devotee who returns to his home after the completion of the yatra, takes with him or her golden memories of the time spent in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. He said that a decision has also been taken by the government to shower flowers on the pilgrims from choppers to welcome the pilgrims coming on the Char Dham Yatra.
CM Dhami said that Char Dham Yatra is a festival for the state of Uttarakhand. He said that lakhs of devotees from the country and abroad come to Uttarakhand for the Yatra and this generates ample employment opportunities in the state. So far, this year, 16 lakh people have registered for the Yatra. The government will ensure that the journey of every devotee is completed totally safely, conveniently and in an auspicious manner. He reminded that as soon as the Yatra was over in 2022, the government had started preparing for the 2023 Yatra and asserted that the devotees who visit Char Dham have special blessings of God.
The CM said that the grand and divine reconstruction work of Kedarnath has been done under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. From this year onwards, the devotees will also see the work on the master plan in Badrinath Dham. He said that the Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone of the ropeway from Hemkund Sahib and Gaurikund to Kedarnath, due to which the yatra will become more auspicious in the coming times. Compared to the time when the All Weather Roads did not exist, now the passengers are reaching Char Dham from Rishikesh in less time. He said that it is the duty of the government to take care of every pilgrim coming to the state.
CM Dhami added that the Joint Rotation Yatra Arrangement Committee provides its support to the pilgrims in completing the yatra. He said that it is the effort of the state government that every comfort and facility should be provided to the devotees when they come on Char Dham Yatra, so that they make up their mind to visit Uttarakhand again and again in future, and like this the tourism industry will also get a boost.
The CM appealed to the police personnel and administrative officers engaged in the Char Dham Yatra, right from the sanitation workers to the security personnel, to try to do their best to make the Yatra successful and convenient for the pilgrims.
Cabinet Minister Premchand Aggarwal said that every devotee who comes here is like a family member for the state. It is the duty of everyone concerned to ensure smooth journey for all of you. He urged the devotees not to forget to collect bills from wherever they rest and eat or purchase anything. He also urged them to purchase local products.
Mata Mangla, Patron of Hans Foundation, said that this year in coordination with the state government, different types of service camps have been organised by the foundation at each stage of Char Dham including expansion of health services in the Char Dhams. The volunteers of the Hans Foundation have been deployed at various places. She also urged the devotees to take special care of cleanliness during the yatra.
Bhole Ji Maharaj, the founder of Hans Foundation, Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, Cabinet Minister Chandan Ram Das, Mayor Anita Mamgai, Sanjay Shastri, Manoj Dhyani, Jitendra Singh, devotees from different states for Char Dham and others were also present.
