CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan: “My Dream Of Taking The Elderly For Pilgrimage By Plane Has Come True”

Bhopal: Speaking on the launch of Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that our government had resolved to take the elders of the state for pilgrimage by aeroplane. Today is the day for a resolution to be fulfilled and a dream to come true. He said that man wants spiritual peace along with material progress. India is a religion dominated country, pilgrimage in the path of devotion has been considered an effective way to see God. Pilgrimage by air has been started with the aim that our elders can attain spiritual peace by doing pilgrimage in a short time without suffering. At present, one member from a family can go on pilgrimage by plane under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana. From the next trip, arrangements will be made for more than one member from a family to go on pilgrimage, so that the elders will be able to get the virtue of pilgrimage along with their spouse. Chief Minister’s pilgrimage tour by rail and plane will continue continuously.

Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana

Chief Minister Chouhan was interacting with the pilgrims from Raja Bhoj Airport on the launch of the journey by plane under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana. The Chief Minister inaugurated the scheme of pilgrimage by plane by lighting a lamp. Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to provide air travel to poor elderly pilgrims. In the first pilgrimage to Prayagraj by plane, 32 elderly pilgrims took part, which include 24 male and 8 female pilgrims. Chief Minister Chouhan welcomed the elderly pilgrims by presenting them with shawls and garlands of flowers. Gave a replica of the boarding pass to the pilgrim Mrs. Krishna Choubey as a token. Chief Minister Chouhan received blessings from the elders. Chief Minister Chouhan also got a group photo taken with the elderly pilgrims to ease the memories and made the pilgrims enter the airport with drum beats and religious flags. The Chief Minister flagged off a regular Indigo flight carrying elderly people on pilgrimage to Prayagraj from the airport. Emotional elders going to Prayagraj by plane blessed Chief Minister Chouhan.

Pilgrimage provides a feeling of immersion in the devotion of God

Chief Minister Chouhan said that like our parents, our elders are leaving for pilgrimage today by plane. It is believed that the mouth is purified by the name of Ram, the heart by the knowledge of Brahman, the feet by going to pilgrimages and the hands by doing charity. Pilgrimage has great importance in Indian culture. Three ways of attaining Bhagwat have been mentioned respectively, Bhakti Marg, Gyan Marg and Karma Marg. Immersion in the devotion of God is the path of devotion, pilgrimage gives this feeling. In order to make the elders of the state feel spiritual peace and joy, the confluence of Ganga-Yamuna-Saraswati rivers are being sent by plane on a journey to Tirthraj-Prayagraj.

Efforts to realize PM Modi’s vision that “those wearing slippers will also be able to travel by air”

Chief Minister Chouhan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that our government has made such a system that even those wearing slippers will be able to travel by air. Making arrangements for pilgrimage by plane under the Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojana is an attempt to make Prime Minister Modi’s thinking come true. These visits will continue continuously. He told that so far 7 lakh 82 thousand elderly people have done pilgrimage by rail under the scheme. The sequence of pilgrimages by plane will continue continuously. Along with Prayagraj, the journey to Shirdi, Mathura-Vrindavan, Gangasagar will be done by plane. Along with this, the work of development and welfare will continue continuously to improve the lives of the people of the state.

Culture Minister Usha Thakur, Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Prabhuram Chowdhary, Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang, former Protem Speaker and MLA Rameshwar Sharma, MLAs Vishnu Khatri, Krishna Gaur, Bhopal Mayor Smt. Malti Rai and other public representatives and officials were present.

Also read: Madhya Pradesh Became The First State In The Country To Provide Air Travel To Pilgrims, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Flagged Off Indigo Aircraft

Shivraj played the role of son

Siya Kumari Sharma, 72, a resident of Bairagarh Ward No. 2, says that she does not have any child. She could not even imagine in her dreams that she would travel by plane and that too to Prayagraj. When councilor Kusum Chaturvedi informed him about this and got him to fill the form, his happiness knew no bounds. He has also visited Tirupati Balaji 3 years ago under the Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojana. He said emotionally that I do not have any child, so is Chief Minister Shivraj playing the role of my son. May God always keep them happy and move forward.

A poor farmer can’t even think of going on a pilgrimage by aeroplane.

Pilgrimage-traveller Mr. Umesh Singh Nagar, age 72 years, village Harrakheda Berasia said that an ordinary farmer like me could not even imagine that he would ever go on a pilgrimage by sitting in an aeroplane. When I got a call from the district office that you would be taken on a pilgrimage to Prayagraj by aeroplane, I could not believe it. It was like a golden dream. Never thought that the government would get air travel done. By the way, I have three sons and a daughter, all are good, but we do not have the capacity to sit in an aeroplane. The government got Jagannath Puri’s journey done by rail 5 years ago. Today Prayagraj is going by aeroplane. I heartily bless and thank Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his entire family.

There has never been such a Chief Minister who makes the public travel by aeroplane.

Mr. Tikaram Sen, 78, of village Ronjia, Berasia says that till date there has not been such a Chief Minister who makes the poor go on pilgrimage by aeroplane. In Treta Yug, Shravan Kumar had made his parents sit on his shoulders for pilgrimage and today Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is taking elders of the state for pilgrimage by aeroplane. Many thanks and blessings to him.

Will travel by air for the first time

Elders like 71-year-old Mangilal Nagar of Hinauti Sadak Berasia, 72-year-old Naresh Bhargava of Dillod Berasia and 67-year-old Rajal Bai of Gondar Mau say that they are extremely happy and excited today. He is going in an airplane for the first time and that too on a pilgrimage to Prayagraj. It is a happy and unforgettable moment in life. Everyone thanks and blesses Chief Minister Chouhan and the state government from the heart for this.