PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Uttarakhand formally began on Sunday with chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami flagging off the first batch of 49 pilgrims from the Sharda tourists rest house at Tanakpur in Champawat district. Speaking on the occasion, Dhami said that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is not just a pilgrimage but also a symbol of spiritual awakening, cultural unity and national harmony. Every challenge faced during this pilgrimage should be faced with faith and patience as unbreakable faith in Bhagwan Shiva makes all hardships easier, he said.
The CM further said that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also a medium for development and prosperity in the border areas. This pilgrimage joins people from across the nation with the rich culture, traditions and local life of border area villages. He also exhorted the devotees to purchase local handicrafts and other products to boost the local economy. Dhami said, “Historic works are being done for the preservation and enrichment of Sanatan culture in India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ancient temples across the nation are being renovated and beautified which is giving a new identity to the nation’s spiritual heritage,” he said.
The pilgrims undertaking the Yatra also appreciated the arrangements made by the government. The batch of pilgrims had reached Tanakpur on Saturday evening. They were welcomed by Cholia dancers amid a shower of petals and garlanded on their arrival. A cultural evening comprising various aspects of Uttarakhand’s folk culture was also organised for the batch.
The Sharda tourist rest house manager Manoj Kumar informed that the first batch of 49 pilgrims consists of 34 men and 15 women. Pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnatak, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are part of the first batch. Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Dr Arun Kumar is the doctor accompanying the pilgrims. While 68-year-old Purushottam Khandelwal from Rajasthan is the oldest pilgrim, 21-year-old Harikrishna from Gujarat is the youngest.
According to officials, due to the chief minister’s special efforts, this pilgrimage is being conducted for the second consecutive year from the Tanakpur route. This activity has given a new identity to Champawat district in religious tourism which has also provided a fillip to the local business, tourism, transport and hospitality business along with employment generation, officials said.
