Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today flagged off the first batch of buses taking devotees to visit religious places in the holy city of Amritsar under the Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme.
Speaking to the devotees, the Chief Minister said that this journey is dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of the ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He said that this scheme was started on October 29, 2025, from village Bardhwal and these devotees have been selected transparently through a draw. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is a humble initiative by the Punjab government to strengthen social and religious harmony among Punjabis by providing facilities to visit holy places.
The Chief Minister said that this initiative is fulfilling the heartfelt wishes of elderly citizens who have been longing to visit holy religious places for a long time. He said that under this scheme, devotees will be taken to visit Sri Harmandir Sahib, Durgiana Temple, Bhagwan Valmiki pilgrimage site, Jallianwala Bagh, Partition Museum, and other religious and historical places in Amritsar. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this scheme is for people of all castes, religions, income groups, and every region.
Giving more information, the Chief Minister said that the state government has made detailed arrangements for free stay for three days and two nights for the devotees. He said that devotees aged 50 years or above have been registered for the journey and voter ID card has been made mandatory for registration. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that devotees will be provided free AC buses, AC hotel accommodation, and food.
The Chief Minister said that each bus will have an assistant to help passengers and a medical team will also accompany the devotees to provide immediate help in any emergency. He said that after the completion of the journey, prasad (sacred offering) will be distributed to all devotees. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab is the sacred land of great Gurus, gods and goddesses, saints-pirs, and martyrs who gave us the message of mutual brotherhood, sharing, and unity.
The Chief Minister said that he considers himself fortunate that God has given him the opportunity to serve people through this noble work. He said that this scheme has been prepared according to the teachings and philosophy of the great Guru Sahibs, who gave people the message of mutual brotherhood, unity, and peace. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a large section of society in the state could not visit these holy places across the country for one reason or another.
The Chief Minister said that now the state government has started this scheme for devotees to visit various holy places across the country and state. He appealed to all devotees to actively participate in various religious gatherings and main programs being organized in different districts and Sri Anandpur Sahib in memory of the martyrdom day of the ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has already prepared a schedule of successive gatherings to celebrate this historic occasion.