Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that June 24 is the Balidan Diwas (sacrifice day) of Veerangana Rani Durgavati. She is a symbol of India's valour and self-respect. The state government has decided to take out Veerangana Durgavati Gaurav Yatra from 5 places from June 22 to 27 to remember the struggle and sacrifice of Veerangana and to pay homage to her. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay floral tributes to Veerangana Rani Durgavati in Shahdol on June 27. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the Veerangana Durgavati Gaurav Yatra from Balaghat on June 22.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that Rani Durgavati bravely faced Akbar's army and sacrificed her life to protect her self-respect. It has been decided to take out these yatras to make the present generation aware about her struggle. The yatras will start from Balaghat, Chhindwara, Singrampur (Jabera-Damoh), Kalinjar Fort, the birth place of Rani Durgavati and Dhohni Sidhi. All 5 yatras will conclude on 27 June in Shahdol. Along with this, Prime Minister Modi will launch a nationwide programme to free India from sickle cell anaemia and one crore Ayushman cards will be distributed symbolically by him in Madhya Pradesh. All the wards and villages of the state will be connected virtually with the programme. Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing the meeting held at Samatva Bhawan to review the preparations for Veerangana Durgavati Gaurav Yatra. Forest Minister Vijay Shah was present.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that meetings will be held at the places falling on the routes of the five yatras. The Panchayat and Rural Development Department and the urban bodies will make arrangements to connect masses and for the programmes. All yatras will start with the chariots. Garlands and floral tributes will be offered on the picture of Rani Durgavati in the meetings to be held on the yatra route. The purpose of these yatras is to give information about the struggle and bravery of Rani Durgavati to the people. There will be discussions, cultural programmes, folk songs, patriotic songs etc. about Veerangana at the meeting places. Local artists will give their presentations in the programmes. For better arrangements, the District Collector, local public representatives and officers should be made head of yatras and programmes and entrusted with the responsibility. The Tribal Affairs Department will be the nodal department for the Gaurav Yatra, along with the Jan Abhiyan Parishad, Culture Department and Youth Commission have also been entrusted with the responsibilities. Gaurav Yatras will also be monitored from the state level.
Chief Minister Chouhan informed that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the yatra starting from Balaghat on June 22. Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste will be in charge of this yatra. On June 22, the Yatra will take a night halt at Baihar, on June 23 it will take a night halt at Dindori via Bichhiya, the next night halt will be at Pushparajgarh on June 24, on June 25 the yatra will reach Jaitpur via Anuppur, where the night halt will be made. The last stop of the yatra will be in Shahdol on June 26.
The yatra will start from Chhindwara on the second route. Its in-charge MP will be Durgadas Uike. Starting from Chhindwara on June 22, the yatra will reach Chaurai, after the night rest at Seoni, on June 23, the yatra will take a night halt at Mandla while passing through Lakhnadon, the yatra will leave for Niwas on June 24 and will have a night halt at Shahpura, on June 25 the yatra will reach Umaria and will take a night halt at Pali-Manpur. The last stop of the yatra will be in Shahdol on June 26.
