DHURI: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday flagged off the first batch of buses carrying devotees for paying obeisance at holy city of Amritsar under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme.
Interacting with the devotees, the Chief Minister said that this pilgrimage is dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of the ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He said that this scheme was launched on October 29, 2025, from the village Bararwal and the selection of these devotees has been done in a transparent manner through a draw. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is a humble initiative to strengthen social and religious harmony among Punjabis by facilitating pilgrimages to holy places.
The Chief Minister said that this initiative fulfills the heartfelt wish of the elderly people who have long desired to visit sacred religious sites. He said that under the scheme the Devotees will be taken to visit Sri Harmandir Sahib, Durgiana Temple, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, Jallianwala Bagh, the Partition Museum, and other religious and historical places in Amritsar. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this scheme is for people of all castes, religions, income groups, and regions.
Divulging more details, the Chief Minister said that the state government has made elaborate arrangements for free three-day and two-night stay for the pilgrims. He said that devotees aged 50 years or above have been registered for the pilgrimage and a voter ID card has been made mandatory for registration. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the pilgrims will be provided with AC buses, AC hotel accommodations and meals free of cost.
The Chief Minister said that each bus will have an attendant to assist the passengers and a medical team will also accompany the pilgrims to provide immediate assistance in case of any emergency. He said that after the completion of the pilgrimage, all devotees will be given prasad. Meanwhile, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab is the sacred land of great Gurus, deities, saints, and martyrs who gave us the message of brotherhood, unity, and communal harmony.