INDIA. Chhattisgarh: Navaratri is always a spectacular celebration all over India and around the world. Apart from various cultural and religious programs, we are witnessing various new and exciting projects and coming up during this auspicious time. One such project is going to launch on the auspicious occasion of Navaratri on October 7. Chhattisgarh is all set to celebrate the launch of the state government’s ambitious ‘Ram Van Gaman Path Tourist Circuit’ project. It is a new development plan for 2021, a vision of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel and its tag line is -“Baat Hai Abhiman Ki, Chhattisgarh Ke Swabhiman Ki.”
Chhattisgarh: Lord Rama’s maternal home
Chhattisgarh is a state that abounds with stories of Ram, Laxman, and Sita living in exile in Chattisgarh forests. Stories and songs inspired by Lord Ram have been narrated and sung in communities here and passed on through generations. Interestingly, Chhattisgarh is the Nanihal (mother’s birth home) of Ram. It is the place where Prince Ram became Maryada Purushotam, carefully nurtured by his mother’s love.
As Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel put in words, “Lord Ram spent most of his time in Chhattisgarh during his exile from Ayodhya. To preserve the memories linked to Lord Ram and Mata Kaushalya, the government has envisioned this project where the devotees and tourists will be able to feel the essence of divinity with every step, they take on Ram Van Path Gaman Tourism Circuit.
Nine spots on the forested route
The State Tourism Board is using the auspicious occasion of Navratri to introduce their new tourism circuit that follows the path traveled by Lord Ram in the region of Chhattisgarh during his exile from Ayodhya: The Ram Van Gaman Path.
In the first phase of this project, the plan is to develop the nine spots that fall on the forested route that Shri Ram traversed. These sites include Sitamarhi- Harchowka, Ramgarh, Shivrinarayan, Turturiya, Chandkhuri, Rajim, Sihawa, Jagdalpur, and Ramaram.
Talking about this, Yashwant Kumar, Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board said, “Our main priority is to develop the identified sites of the Ram Van Gaman Path into prime tourist spots. Keeping in mind the ongoing pandemic, special efforts are being made to motivate tourists towards domestic tourism and the Ram Van Gaman Path will be an immersive experience for tourists.”
Visual Spectacle
This year, the event venue is the ancient Kaushalya Mata Mandir, located in Chandkhuri village which is approximately 25 km away from Raipur. The celebrations will be a visual spectacle with a combination of music, dance, a laser show, and LED mapping highlighting the story of Lord Ram and his exile in Chhattisgarh. This is intended to become an annual occurrence with fiesta and festivities and is aimed at giving Chhattisgarh its place as an exciting destination for international as well as domestic tourists. The state aims to develop and beautify the selected sites and create world-class tourism infrastructure to generate high footfalls which will give a boost to state tourism.
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