The Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra began from Nauti village in Chamoli district on Monday in the presence of Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi, cabinet ministers and other public representatives along with numerous devotees.
The Yatra reached its first halt — Idabadhani — on Monday where it was received by a large number of people. After an overnight halt here, the devotees will carry the goddess in her palanquin through different villages before reaching Nauti once again on Tuesday.
Speaking before the start of the 280-kilometre-long Yatra, also known as the Himalayan Mahakumbh, Qureshi wished for the prosperity of the State and the success of the Yatra while beseeching goddess Nanda Devi for ridding the State of disasters and returning it to its past glory. He said that after the creation of Uttarakhand, this is the first Nanda Raj Jat and has great historical significance. For its safe and smooth conduct, he had, as the chief patron of the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra committee, repeatedly reviewed the preparations for it. Qureshi said that he had been giving directions in this regard and had been in constant touch with the office-bearers of the committee as this yatra is the symbol of the rich religious and cultural heritage of Uttarakhand.
The Governor also appreciated the efforts of chief minister Harish Rawat to provide necessary infrastructural facilities at all the 20 resting points on the yatra route. He commended the efforts of Vidhan Sabha deputy speaker Dr Anusuya Prasad Maikhuri who is also the chairman of the Nanda Raj Jat monitoring and implementation committee, committee general secretary Bhuvan Nautiyal and all the office bearers who have made preparations for the yatra.
Earlier, the State Parliamentary Affairs minister Indira Hridayesh welcomed the Governor at Nauti on behalf of the Chief Minister. Before starting off the Yatra, the Governor toured Dhaanai village near Nauti where more than 300 Muslims reside. The residents of the village submitted a memorandum of demands to him regarding lack of facilities like roads, electricity and drinking water. The Governor assured them that their problems would be resolved soon.