Uttarakhand News: Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday flagged off a special train journey to Veraval (Somnath) from Railway Station Harrawala, Dehradun on the occasion of ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’. On this occasion, while congratulating the devotees participating in the yatra, he described it as not just a religious journey, but a powerful medium to connect with the nation’s self-respect, cultural consciousness and eternal traditions.
The Chief Minister said that he is happy that about 700 devotees from different sections of the state are participating in this six-day special yatra. These include mothers and sisters associated with self-help groups, beneficiaries of various public welfare schemes, saints and representatives of various sections of the society. While praising the Culture Department for this initiative, he prayed to Lord Somnath and Baba Kedar for a happy, safe and pleasant journey of all the passengers.
The Chief Minister said that this journey is an opportunity to connect with India’s thousands of years old eternal tradition, glorious heritage and national self-respect. He said that Somnath Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, is a symbol of India’s unwavering faith, indomitable faith and revival. Despite many attacks and destruction, Somnath has given the message to the whole world that India moves forward with more strength and determination after every challenge. He said that ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’ is a special occasion to experience nationalism and cultural pride.
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, an unprecedented cultural renaissance is going on in the country. The extensive revival and development of temples from Ayodhya to Somnath, Kedarnath to Kashi Vishwanath, Mahakal to Badrinath Dham is providing new energy to the cultural consciousness of India. He said that temples are not just centers of worship but are the lifeline of Indian civilization, culture and spiritual tradition. The religious and cultural heritages which were neglected for a long time are once again gaining respect and glory, which presents a new picture of the changing India.
The Chief Minister said that taking inspiration from the Prime Minister, the Uttarakhand government is also continuously working to establish Devbhoomi Uttarakhand as the spiritual capital of the world. He said that along with the beautification of the temple areas of Kedarkhand and Manaskhand, work is being done on the revival of Yamunatirtha located in Haripur Kalsi. Apart from this, important projects like Haridwar-Rishikesh Corridor and Sharda Corridor are also being taken forward. He said that ‘Center for Hindu Studies’ has also been established in Doon University to promote in-depth study and research of Indian culture, philosophy and history.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is working with full commitment to protect the cultural values and original form of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. For this purpose, anti-conversion laws and anti-riot laws have been implemented in the state. He said that under the campaign against illegal encroachment, more than 13 thousand acres of government land has been freed, which is not just a campaign to free the land from encroachment but an effort to protect the cultural identity and sanctity of Devbhoomi.
The Chief Minister said that by implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state, equal law and equal justice system has been ensured for all citizens. He said that taking corrective steps in the field of education, more than 250 illegal madrassas were sealed and Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority has been established in place of Madrassa Board, so that education can become an effective medium of nation building.
The Chief Minister said that the aim of the state government is to create such an Uttarakhand, where both modern development and Sanatan culture progress equally. He expressed confidence that this resolution will definitely be realized with the cooperation and blessings of the public.
The Chief Minister urged all the devotees going on the Yatra to represent the culture, traditions and spirit of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand wherever they go. He said that all the pilgrims are not only going to visit Somnath through this yatra, but are also representative of the spiritual consciousness, rich traditions and cultural values of Uttarakhand. He called upon everyone to strengthen the positive identity of the state through their conduct, behavior and thoughts.
On this occasion, MLA Shri Brij Bhushan Gairola, Mayor Dehradun Shri Saurabh Thapliyal, other public representatives and a large number of local citizens were present.