TFP Bureau, Raipur; June 26, 2024 : Amid chants of “Bhacha Ram Jai Siyaram,” Durg station was filled with the excitement of 850 pilgrims from the Durg and Bastar divisions, departing for Ayodhya Dham under the ‘Sri Ramlala Darshan Yojana.’ This initiative, launched by the Chhattisgarh Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, aims to facilitate pilgrimages to Ayodhya following the construction of the grand Sri Ramlala temple.
Pilgrims lauded the scheme as an excellent initiative, expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Shri Sai for making their dream visit to Ayodhya a reality. This follows previous pilgrimages from the Raipur and Bilaspur divisions. With the lifting of the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections, the pilgrimage resumed on Wednesday. Chief Minister Shri Sai extended his best wishes to the departing pilgrims.
Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Arun Sao and Shri Vijay Sharma, along with Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap and MLAs Shri Domanlal Korsewada, Shri Lalit Chandrakar, Shri Gajendra Yadav, and Shri Rikesh Sen, flagged off the special train from Platform No. 1 at Durg Railway Station. The platform was adorned with vibrant tableaux of Lord Ram, Lakshman, and Hanuman, accompanied by Panthi dance performances.
Deputy CM Arun Sao addressed the gathering, emphasizing Chhattisgarh’s deep connection to Lord Ram, urging pilgrims to seek blessings for the state’s development. He highlighted the government’s commitment to fulfilling Prime Minister Shri Modi’s guarantees with the motto “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas.” Deputy CM Vijay Sharma celebrated the temple’s construction after 500 years of struggle, crediting the central government’s resolve. Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap also extended his best wishes to the pilgrims.
Guests engaged with the pilgrims, inquiring about their well-being before the train’s departure. Elderly pilgrims like 77-year-old Shri Jay Srivastava and 70-year-old Smt. Jamul Bai from Balod district expressed heartfelt thanks to Chief Minister Shri Sai for this opportunity. Shri Daulat Sahu, 55, from Rajnandgaon, shared his joy of joining fellow devotees on this special journey.
The event saw the presence of Durg Division Commissioner Shri Satyanarayan Rathore, IG Shri R.G. Garg, Collector Sushri Richa Prakash Choudhary, SP Shri Jitendra Shukla, other officials, local representatives, and a large number of citizens.
