First batch comprising 43 pilgrims from Mohali constituency, under Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra from SAS Nagar district has proceeded for Amritsar-Talwandi Sabo religious circuit on Tuesday. Divulging details, the Deputy Commissioner Mrs Aashika Jain said that the pilgrims were departed from the Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Sohana, Mohali.
They were also given individual kits having blanket, bed sheet, pillow, towel, umbrella, Jaap Mala and toiletry kits by the administration. Deputy Commissioner further said that through buses the pilgrims will be able to visit Sri Amritsar Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib and Sri Damdama Sahib, Sri Vaishno devi, Mata Chintpurni ji, Mata Naina Devi ji, Mata Jwala ji, Salasar Dham, Khatu Shyam ji and other places of religious importance in state while through trains the pilgrims will be able to visit Sri Hazur Sahib and Sri Patna Sahib, Varanasi, Mathura, Ajmer Sharif and other places.
She further said that the AC buses would ferry them to the religious places and the boarding and lodging would be borne by the Punjab Government. A thorough medical examination of each pilgrim has also been done before boarding the bus, she added.
She said that each constituency would have eight buses for pilgrimage and the pilgrims would have to pay not even a penny for the Yatra. She said that the second batch of Pilgrims would proceed to Amritsar tomorrow from Gurdwara Nabha Sahib, Zirakpur.
The Deputy Commissioner further said that the initiative would help a large section of society, which could not visit sacred places for one reason to another, to visit these sacred places across the country. She said that the safety of the pilgrims would be taken on priority and the Government Hospitals situated on the Pilgrimage Route have already been put on alert in case of any emergency.