PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the religious tourism and spiritual pilgrimages in Uttarakhand have set new records this year.
He was addressing the closing ceremony of Shri Ram Katha of Morari Bapu in Haridwar on Wednesday.
The CM said that the Char Dham Yatra this year has shattered all previous records, with over 45 lakh pilgrims having visited the State for Yatra within two months. Similarly, over 1.5 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Hemkund Sahib Yatra, while over 55,000 pilgrims have visited the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, where previously only a limited number of pilgrims were allowed throughout the year.
Reiterating his resolve to make the upcoming Ardh Kumbh-2027 divine, grand and safe, the CM said that Kumbh is not just an event of faith, but a grand festival of social harmony, spiritual consciousness and Sanatan culture. He said that with the mantra of development and protecting heritage, the State government is continuously working for the preservation of the cultural identity, spiritual dignity and Sanatan tradition of Uttarakhand.
The CM said that Morari Bapu is not only the narrator of Shri Ram Katha, but is also a living carrier of the ideals, thoughts and philosophy of life of Lord Shri Ram, who has spread the message of Indian culture, Sanatan philosophy and spirituality across the world. He called upon the devotees to adopt the ideals of Lord Shri Ram in their lives. He said that with the blessings of saints and public participation, Uttarakhand will achieve new heights in the spiritual and cultural field.
