Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the members of the Gujarat-based Pattidar community on Thursday over video conferencing said that the ancient tradition of building dharamshalas on the way to shrines should be kept alive. During the programme a temple and a dharamshala built by the community at Haripur kalan in Haridwar was inaugurated by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.
Union Agriculture Minister Parshottam Rupala and Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel were also present on the occasion. During his speech, Modi said that the multi-facility inn — Umiya Mata Mandir Trust Dharamshala — is a major milestone to boost the Char Dham pilgrimage which begins from the holy city Haridwar.
He thanked the community members, saying that it would not just help the community members but the society at large. He regreted his inability to come here to inaugurate it as he was otherwise engaged on the day.
He said that he was happy that the dharamshala has revived the great tradition of building such lodging places for the pilgrims which marks the country’s timeless culture.
CM Rawat said that the magnificent structure of Umiyadham Dharamshala would immensely help thousands of the Char Dham pilgrims. “It is a dharamshala by name, but it is equipped with all the facilities a good hotel offers,” he said.
He thanked the people from Gujarat for choosing Uttarakhand for the noble purpose.