The Chhattisgarh government, in a significant decision, has announced that it will take around 20,000 people on pilgrimage to Ayodhya every year. The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, January 10.
The Chhattisgarh Government has decided to launch the “Sri Ram Lala Darshan Yojna” in which the residents of Chhattisgarh will be taken on pilgrimage to Ayodhya, informed the government in a detailed post on social media platform X.
Residents of Chhattisgarh who fall under the age group of 18 to 75 will be eligible for the journey after clearing the fitness test conducted by the district medical board. The first phase of the scheme will only include residents who are more than 55 years old. This information was shared in a tweet by the Chief Minister Office (CMO), Chhattisagrh further.
Additionally, guidelines have also been approved to allow an additional member from the family of Divyangjans (a person with special ability) in the journey.
The government further informed, that Sri Ram Lala Committees will be formed at district levels with district collectors as its head to run the scheme. The committee will further identify the beneficiaries on proportional basis for the pilgrimage.
Further, the tourism department of the Chhattisgarh government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) officials to facilitate the beneficiaries. read the tweet of the Chhattisgarh government in the end.
छत्तीसगढ़ वासियों की राम लला के दर्शन की इच्छा होगी पूरी ,अब छत्तीसगढ़ सरकार कराएगी अयोध्या धाम के दर्शन।
– छत्तीसगढ़ में #श्री_राम_लला_दर्शन_योजना की शुरुआत ,कैबिनेट की बैठक में हुआ निर्णय।
– मुख्यमंत्री श्री विष्णुदेव साय ने कहा #मोदी_की_गारंटी को एक एक करके हम पूरा करेंगे।
-… pic.twitter.com/hx0vlxGGDb— CMO Chhattisgarh (@ChhattisgarhCMO) January 10, 2024
Dry day on January 22
It is worth mentioning here that the Chhattisgarh government had earlier also decided to observe a ‘dry day’ on January 22 on the occasion of the consecration of Shri Ram Lalla at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
Hailing the decision of the government, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo while interacting with the media, asserted that “It is our fortune that Chhattisgarh is the maternal birthplace of Bhagwan Ram and that the consecration of the Ram Mandir is going to take place in Ayodhya on January 22.”
“There will be an atmosphere of enthusiasm across the State on that day. Like Deepawali, lamps will be lit in homes, and the Chhattisgarh Government has decided to declare January 22 as a dry day in the entire state,” added CM Sai.
Furthermore, the State government has also announced a one day leave in the educational institution and schools of the State on the day of consecration ceremony. Interacting with the media, Chhattisgarh’s education minister Brijmohan Agarwal said, that I am declaring a leave in School education and higher education department on January 22.
Earlier a number of leaders including the former union minister and incumbent MLA, Renuka Singh also appealed to the masses to lit a Diya on January 22. In an appeal made to the masses the former union minister said that one should lit two Diyas on January 22 one for the Ram temple and the other for the nation.
It is to be noted that preparations are in final stages for the much-awaited Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Bhagwan Ram in the holy city of Ayodhya on January 22, where eminent personalities from various streams are expected to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will lead the vedic rituals to be performed during the Pran Pratishtha.
It is pertinent to mention here that the State of Chhattisgarh cherishes its historic connection with Bhagwan Rama, who himself believed to spent a brief period of time in the tribal heartland during his Vanvas.
Additionally, the Janjati-dominated State is considered home to the mother of Bhagwan Ram, Kaushalya who belongs to Dakshin Koshala a historical term reffered to the geographical region constituting modern-day Chhattisgarh more or less.
