Efforts Underway to start Pilgrimages to Kurukshetra’s Holy Sites on the Lines of Braj’s 84 Kos Yatra: CM Nayab Singh Saini
Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the state government is committed to making Kurukshetra one of the most prestigious places in the world. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, the Gita Mahotsav has been celebrated internationally in Kurukshetra since 2016.
The Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was speaking at the 48 Kos Tirtha Sammelan held in Kurukshetra on Monday. The event was attended by Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj, Adhyaksh of the Gita Gyan Sansthanam, along with representatives and devotees from various pilgrimage sites across the Dharmakshetra-Kurukshetra region. Earlier, Chief Minister also released a booklet highlighting the pilgrimage sites within the 48 Kos of Kurukshetra.
Extending his greetings on Gita Jayanti, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that on this day during the Mahabharata period, Lord Krishna imparted the immortal message of Karmayoga to all of humanity through Arjuna on the sacred land of Kurukshetra. He added that over the past 17 days, devotees and Gita enthusiasts have been participating in the 10th International Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra. The influence of the Gita is now felt throughout Haryana, with its chants resonating across every district. The Gita Mahotsav is also being celebrated at various pilgrimage sites and is simultaneously organized at both state and district levels, making it a unique celebration of religious, cultural, and artistic integration, he said.
The Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that during his visit to Kurukshetra in 2014, the Karmayogi Prime Minister, Sh Narendra Modi, had emphasized that every effort would be made to establish Kurukshetra as the prominent site of the Gita. Following the Prime Minister’s guidance, the Gita Mahotsav has been celebrated internationally since 2016. He added that on November 25, the Prime Minister also participated in the International Gita Mahotsav and conveyed the message of connecting everyone to the teachings of the Gita.
The Chief Minister recalled that the then Prime Minister, the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had provided a special package for the restoration of the banyan tree at Jyotisar near Kurukshetra, where Lord Krishna delivered the holy message of Gita to Arjuna.
also read:- CM Saini Performs Deepdaan at Sannihit Sarovar on Gita Jayanti, Vedic Chants Echo Across the Mahotsav
Citing examples of several famous temples across the country, he said that the Prime Minister, Sh Narendra Modi, is also prioritizing the restoration of endangered pilgrimage sites. A society that preserves its cultural heritage instills strong moral values in its younger generation. That is why we are continuously working to preserve Haryana’s cultural heritage—the land of the Vedas, Puranas, and the Gita—and to pass it on to future generations, he added.
Nayab Singh Saini stated that there are 367 pilgrimage sites within the 48 Kos of Kurukshetra, situated between the sacred Saraswati and Drishadvati rivers. He said that some of these sites have nearly disappeared, but the state government is committed to restoring them and reviving their glory. In 2023, following a detailed survey and documentation, 18 new pilgrimage sites were added to the previously documented 164 sites within the 48 Kos of Kurukshetra, bringing the total to 182. This work is ongoing, and more pilgrimage sites are expected to be added in the near future.
The Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini further said that the state government is working to develop pilgrimage circuits within the 48 Kos of Kurukshetra, similar to the 84 Kosi Yatra in Braj. Special trains have been introduced along these routes to connect Dharmakshetra-Kurukshetra with Lord Krishna’s place Mathura, and the religious city of Haridwar.
He added that Kurukshetra was included in the Sri Krishna Circuit in 2015 under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Under this initiative, development work is being carried out at various pilgrimage sites, with 134 locations within a 48 Kos radius slated for development as tourist destinations. As part of this effort, the Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra, themed on the Mahabharata, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on November 25 at the Jyotisar Shrine.
For More Hindi News: http://newz24india.com