Distributing cheques to pilgrims of Kailash-Mansarovar and Sindhu Yatras, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that these Yatras not only have religious importance but also signify the cultural unity of a country.
“The pilgrims may belong to different cultures and once one travels to religious places, he imbibes culture of that region and carries those memories back. The union of culture is possible only through these Yatras,” Yogi said while addressing a function where he distributed cheques to pilgrims going to the two Yatras this year.
A total of 94 pilgrims going to Mansarovar and 71 pilgrims headed to Sindhu Yatra got a subsidy of Re one lakh each.
“It is said that in Hindu dharma one should not take `chanda’ for any religious yatra but it is permissible in Kailash Mansarovar Yatra because it is costly. If the Government steps in, more and more people could join this Yatra which will help them in knowing more about culture,” the CM said. The Yogi Government, in its first cabinet, decided to give subsidy to pilgrims going to Kailash-Mansarovar and Sindhu Yatras. Since then, the government had invited applications and selected pilgrims were given subsidy. The Yogi Government has also decided to construct a Kailash-Mansarovar House in Ghaziabad.
“Dharma is no religious ritual. It is much more than that. Dharma makes one morally accountable for his deeds. But when we try to restrict religion to puja- paath (rituals) then it becomes dangerous for the society. These Yatras expose pilgrims to truth. They teach what religion is and how it is different from rituals,” Yogi said. “Governments should promote such Yatras. The Sindhu Yatra will take pilgrims to the land from where we got our religion and identity, which is now called Hindu. Even our National Anthem has word `Sindh’ showing importance of this area,” Yogi said. “Uttar Pradesh is lucky because it has many religious places. As a government, it is our responsibility to ensure that pilgrims got all facilities there and we are working to ensure that,” he said. The CM also launched a website of Department of Religious Endowment making online puja in Kashi Vishwanath Temple possible. Principal secretary Religious Endowment Avnish Awasthi also spoke on the occasion.