Mann, Kejriwal flag off 15 buses for pilgrimage sites under expanded Tirath Yatra scheme

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday evening flagged off 15 buses carrying pilgrims to several religious destinations, including Shri Khatu Shyam-Salasar Balaji, Haridwar-Rishikesh and Mathura-Vrindavan.

The flag-off came following the Punjab government's expansion of the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojna to cover more religious destinations.

Under the scheme, pilgrims aged 50 years and above can undertake the journey along with up to two eligible family members. The state government will bear the cost of AC sleeper bus travel, accommodation and food during the pilgrimage.

4 lakh pilgrims covered in Phase I

According to the government, around four lakh pilgrims have so far visited Sri Amritsar Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi under the first phase of the scheme.

Before flagging off the buses, Kejriwal said the initiative provided people with an opportunity to undertake pilgrimages without having to worry about the expenses involved.

He said the buses arranged for the pilgrims were comfortable and air-conditioned, while the government would cover their travel, accommodation and food expenses. Hotels and local transport had also been arranged at the destinations, he added.

“Today, 15 buses are going to Haridwar-Rishikesh, Mathura ji-Vrindavan Dham and Salasar-Shri Khatu Shyam,” Kejriwal said.

He said several passengers they interacted with were visiting Salasar and Shri Khatu Shyam for the first time.

Kejriwal added that the government plans to facilitate pilgrimages for around 1.5 lakh people from Punjab to different religious destinations over the coming months.

Pilgrims from five districts

Mann said the buses departing from Hoshiarpur would take devotees to destinations including Vrindavan, Salasar, Khatu Shyam, Rishikesh and Mathura.

The Chief Minister said he and Kejriwal interacted with the pilgrims before their departure and found them enthusiastic about the journey, with devotees already singing bhajans inside the buses.

The 15 buses carried pilgrims belonging to five districts — Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Pathankot and Gurdaspur.

The expanded pilgrimage programme is aimed at enabling eligible residents, particularly those who may otherwise find such journeys financially difficult, to visit prominent religious sites with the expenses borne by the Punjab government.