Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, September 16:- Under the Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme launched by the Punjab Government, three buses carrying devotees from the Mohali Assembly constituency departed for Sri Amritsar Sahib today. MLA Kulwant Singh flagged off two buses from Sector-78 and Sector-79, while the third bus departed for Sri Amritsar Sahib from village Maujpur.
On the occasion, Phoolraj Singh, constituency coordinator of the Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme and State Awardee, was specially present. Senior citizen devotees from Sector-78, under the leadership of Councillor Sharanjit Kaur, and from Sector-79, under the leadership of Councillor Harjit Singh Bholu, departed for Sri Amritsar Sahib.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion, MLA Kulwant Singh said that so far, 144 buses had been sent from the Mohali Assembly constituency under the Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme, and three more buses carrying devotees departed today. He said that continuous enthusiasm was being witnessed among devotees regarding the pilgrimage.
He said that there are 254 booths in the Mohali Assembly constituency and under the scheme, a target has been set to send at least one bus from every booth. He said that even after 254 buses have been sent, the pilgrimage programme will continue so that maximum number of devotees can benefit from the scheme.
MLA Kulwant Singh said that he thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for launching the scheme while keeping in view the religious faith of senior citizen devotees. He said that during the initial phase, it took some time to create awareness among people about the pilgrimage, but now the demand and interest among devotees for the pilgrimage is continuously increasing.
He said that under the scheme, devotees are also being taken to various religious places including Khatu Shyam, Salasar and Vrindavan, besides Sri Amritsar Sahib. He said that keeping the convenience of devotees in mind, sleeper buses and AC buses are arranged for the pilgrimage, and devotees are picked up by bus from locations near their homes and dropped back near their homes.
The MLA said that arrangements for the devotees’ transportation, food and accommodation during the pilgrimage are made by the Punjab Government. He said that to ensure that devotees do not face any difficulty during the journey, guides and doctors are also arranged to accompany them in the buses.
He said that devotees returning from the pilgrimage share their experiences with their relatives and acquaintances, through which more people are also becoming aware of the scheme.
On this occasion, Deputy Mayor, Municipal Corporation Mohali, Harpal Singh Channa, Bhupinder Singh Johal, Avtar Singh Mauli, Didar Singh and Major Singh, among other dignitaries, were present. At village Maujpur, Sarpanch Sandeep Kaur, Sukhwinder Singh Mittha, Panch Gurpreet Singh, Dharampreet Singh, Gurjit Singh, Jasvir Singh and Parminder Kaur, along with a large number of local residents, were also present.