Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal flag off 15 pilgrim buses in Hoshiarpur

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday flagged off 15 buses carrying pilgrims from Hoshiarpur for religious destinations including Haridwar-Rishikesh, Mathura-Vrindavan and Salasar-Shri Khatu Shyam.The flagging-off ceremony marked the expansion of the Punjab government's Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojana, under which pilgrims aged 50 and above can undertake pilgrimages along with up to two eligible family members.Under the scheme, the government covers the cost of AC sleeper bus travel, accommodation and food for the pilgrims.Speaking at the event, Kejriwal said the scheme would allow people to undertake pilgrimages without having to bear the expenses themselves. He said comfortable AC buses and accommodation had been arranged for the devotees. "Today, 15 buses are going to Haridwar-Rishikesh, Mathura ji-Vrindavan Dham and Salasar-Shri Khatu Shyam," Kejriwal said, adding that many of the pilgrims were visiting these destinations for the first time.He said the government plans to take 1.5 lakh people from Punjab to different pilgrimage destinations in the coming months. Mann said the buses were carrying devotees from Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Pathankot and Gurdaspur."A total of 15 buses carrying devotees from five districts... have departed from Hoshiarpur for different religious destinations," he said, adding that the pilgrims were happy and singing bhajans as they began their journey.Under Phase I of the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojana, the government said four lakh pilgrims have so far visited Sri Amritsar Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi.- Ends(with inputs from PTI)Published By: Prateek ChakrabortyPublished On: Aug 13, 2026 23:34 IST