Jammu:Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Raghav Langer on Sunday flagged off Parikrama Yatra to different historical temples of Jammu here from historical Raghunath Temple.
The Yatra was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Religious, Tourism, Culture and Heritage with the aim to promote religious tourist circuits in districts of Jammu division and inculcate spiritualism amongst the masses.
Chairman J&K Religious, Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Mahant Rajesh Bittu, President Chamber of Commerce, Arun Gupta; Executive Director Mubarak Mandi Heritage, Deepika Sharma, other Mahants from Sant Samaj, Vivekanand Rai, Director Tourism Jammu, Naresh Kumar, Deputy Director Tourism Jammu, Dr Arvinder Singh Amn, Additional Secretary J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Kulbir Handa SP North Jammu, Kunwarani Ritu Singh President J&K FICCI FLO Chapter besides Advocate Ajay Gandotra, President J&K Dharmarth Trust and Dr. Gopal Parthasarthi Sharma Secretary J&K Dharmarth Trust besides presidents of Market Associations, civil society members and a large number of locals participated in the Yatra.
On the occasion, A book written by Prateek & Manik Gupta, briefing about history of these temples, was also released at the commencement of the Yatra.
Speaking on the occasion, the Div Com said that the government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy for the promotion of religious, heritage adventure and other tourism in Jammu region.
“The traditional and Cultural Festivals are being promoted in the districts of the division to attract tourist footfall towards new destinations. We discussed the issue of development of pilgrim tourism circuits with all the stakeholders and this Yatras is a good start for it", Dr Langer said. "With the development of tourist circuits in the region, the local economy will definitely get a boost", he added.
He said the development of pilgrim tourism circuits will provide an opportunity to the pilgrims who are visiting Shri Amarnath and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi to visit other religious and heritage places ringed on the identified circuits of Jammu.
While giving details of the Yatra, Mahant Rajesh Bittu informed that Parikrama Yatra has been organised to promote religious tourism and to preserve and promote our historical temples in Jammu.
He informed that Yatra started from Raghunath Temple will visit via Peer Kho to other historical temples including Shri Krishna Rukmani Temple, Shri Chintpurni Temple, Shri Balram Ji Temple, Shri billu Ji Temple, Shri Gadhadhari Temple, Mubarak Mandi, Shri Ranveereshwar ji Temple and will culminate at Hanuman Ji Temple Gummat Bazar.
Later, the Divisional Commissioner visited Gurdwara Digiana Ashram and took part in a Samagam organised to celebrate Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.
The Div Com paid obeisance at the Gurdwara.