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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said his government wants to develop the state as a centre of religious tourism, for which places of worship should be equipped with all kind of facilities. At a meeting held to review the management of religious fairs, he directed officials for their safe conduct. "The state government is committed to provide the devotees all kind of facilities and security. The intention of the state government is that Rajasthan should be developed into a wonderful centre of religious tourism," he said. "All religious places in the state should be beautiful and equipped with all facilities," Gehlot added at the meeting, which was also attended by religious leaders through videoconferencing. The chief minister said the guidelines issued by the state government for safety in fairs should be implemented properly. Gehlot also sought suggestions from religious leaders to improve facilities. The chief minister said his government is working for the ...
Kerala's cash-strapped state-run transport corporation, which is looking for diversified means for its survival, has now come out with a budget-friendly pilgrim tour package focussing on the epic Mahabharatha to woo common passengers and tourists. The new package, announced by the budget tourism cell of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), offers travel buffs and pilgrims a cost-effective opportunity to visit the famed Pancha Pandava Temples in the southern state and also to take part in the famous 'Valla Sadhya', the ritualistic feast being served at the Parthasarathy Temple in Aranmula. The pilgrim tour is organised in collaboration with various devaswoms (temple managements) and Palliyoda Seva Samithis, outfits which manage the boats and rituals in connection with the Vallasadya, under the tagline "A Pilgrimage through the History of Mahabharatha." The KSRTC management on Wednesday announced the package and invited interested persons to pre-book their travel from
Punjab Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney on Friday thanked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after waiving off Goods and Services Tax (GST) from religious places including Sarais in or around Gurdwaras.Earlier today, the central government cleared the air regarding doubts about GST on Sarais (accommodations) run by religious or charitable trusts, saying it is not true."I am happy to inform all the Punjabis and Sikh devotees that this morning honourable finance minister and GST council CBIC allowed GST Exemption to precincts of a religious place including Sarai even if it is located outside the boundary wall of a complex of a religious place, in the surrounding area, and managed by the same trust & management," Vikramjit told ANI."I thanked Nirmala Sitharaman for accepting our demands and waiving off GST from Sarai's," Sahney told ANI.Punjab MP Vikramjit Singh Sahni said that this is a big relief for the devotees after the waiving off GST charges from religious places
The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra began in Udaipur on Friday amid heavy security arrangements, three days after a tailor was brutally murdered in the city triggering communal tensions. Special permission was given by the district administration to take out the procession as a curfew was clamped in seven police station areas on Tuesday night following the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal. Thousands of people attended the procession, which is expected to take several hours to cover its 7-km-long route. Around 3,000 policemen have been deployed in the city to maintain law and order. ADG Dinesh M N, who is camping in Udaipur, said the deployment of policemen for the yatra this year is three times higher than the previous occasions. "We hope that the yatra goes well. Senior officials have been deployed on key points. Volunteers of the organisers are also working in close coordination with police," he said. The annual yatra is being organised after a gap of two years as it could not be held