PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami flagged off the first group of pilgrims of the famous Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from the tourist guest house, Tanakpur in Champawat district on Saturday. The Yatra is resuming after a gap of five years as it was first suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic and then due to tensions at the border between India and China.
The CM interacted with all the devotees who came from 11 States and welcomed them to Uttarakhand. Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that not everyone gets the privilege of being a part of the sacred Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. He added that the Yatra is not just a religious ritual but a path of spiritual awakening.
Dhami said that Lord Shiva resides in every grain of the sacred land of Uttarakhand. “This journey is no longer just a geographical route, but with the visionary leadership and determination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has become a powerful medium to meet Lord Shiva by transcending the boundaries. The journey which earlier used to take seven days or more, has now become possible in just a few hours,’’ he said.
The chief minister said that the Uttarakhand government is fully dedicated to making the Kailash Mansarovar journey smooth, safe and convenient. He said that health, accommodation, food, security and other necessary facilities have been strengthened at every stop so that the devotees do not face any kind of inconvenience. The CM prayed to Lord Shiva for a successful, auspicious and safe journey of all the pilgrims.
The CM welcomed the pilgrims in a traditional manner and presented them souvenirs related to the cultural heritage of Uttarakhand.
Kumaon commissioner Deepak Rawat, inspector general (IG) of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and public relations officer Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Sanjay Gunjiyal, Kumaon IG Ridhim Agarwal, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam managing director Vineet Tomar, Champawat district magistrate Manish Kumar, Pithoragarh DM Vinod Goswami and others were present on the occasion.
