The Gujarat government has launched a series of pilgrimage schemes aimed at helping citizens visit their chosen religious destinations at subsidized costs, benefiting a staggering 1,42,000 pilgrims over the past seven years. The most prominent of these, the Shravan Tirth Darshan Yojana, has alone accounted for 1,38,748 beneficiaries.
Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, various pilgrimage destinations across Gujarat are experiencing rapid development, attracting an increasing number of pilgrims and visitors. RR Rawal, Secretary of the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board (GPYVB), highlighted the state government’s dedication to efficiently managing these schemes through GPYVB, ensuring that lakhs of devotees can journey to their sacred destinations.
The Shravan Tirth Darshan Yojana stands out as the most successful initiative, designed specifically to facilitate pilgrimages for senior citizens. Since its inception on Gujarat Foundation Day in 2017, the scheme has enabled 138,748 elderly devotees to undertake pilgrimages, with the state providing 2,850 buses and financial assistance totaling Rs 10.25 crore. This initiative offers senior citizens aged 60 and above group pilgrimage opportunities with 75 percent of bus travel expenses funded by the government. In addition, each pilgrim receives daily allowances for meals and accommodation.
In addition to the Shravan Tirth Darshan Yojana, the Gujarat government has also launched the Kailash Mansarovar Yojana and Sindhu Darshan Yojana. The Kailash Mansarovar Yojana has benefited 2,564 pilgrims, with the government providing Rs 581.49 lakh in financial assistance. Responding to increased interest, the government recently doubled the financial support from Rs 23,000 to Rs 50,000 per pilgrim.
The Sindhu Darshan Yojana, another key initiative, has supported 1,754 pilgrims since 2017, with Rs 2.63 crore allocated in financial aid. This scheme encourages travel to the Sindhu Darshan Utsav, an annual festival in Leh-Ladakh, which is particularly significant for the state’s Sindhi community. The government provides Rs 15,000 in assistance to 300 pilgrims each year for the festival, with a draw system employed if the number of applicants exceeds the limit.
These pilgrimage schemes reflect the Gujarat government’s commitment to supporting religious journeys and promoting the welfare of its citizens, particularly the elderly, by making pilgrimages more accessible and affordable.
