UP Government Vows Pilgrimage Subsidy Schemes for Buddhist and Sikh Communities, CM Yogi Announces Financial Assistance of ₹10,000

The Yogi Adityanath Government has announced pilgrimage sponsorship schemes for Buddhist and Sikh communities domiciled in Uttar Pradesh, in a significant move to promote religious tourism and cultural harmony. The Chief Minister chaired a crucial meeting on Saturday, where he unveiled the Bauddha Teerth Darshan Yojana and Panch Takht Yatra Yojana, marking a major step in the state's support initiative for religious tourism.

Under the newly launched UP pilgrimage subsidy programs, eligible beneficiaries will receive a minimum financial assistance of ₹10,000 per person. The Bauddha Teerth Darshan scheme is specifically designed to facilitate Hindu and Buddhist residents of UP in undertaking pilgrimages to their revered religious sites across the country. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to prioritize Buddhist monks in the beneficiary selection process under this scheme.

Similarly, the Panch Takht Yatra Yojana will enable Sikh pilgrims to undertake yatra to their five sacred Gurudwaras across India, which we know as Akaal Takht. These include three revered sites in Punjab- Shree Anandpur Sahib, Shri Akal Takht Sahib, and Shri Damdama Sahib- along with Shri Takht Sachkhand Shri Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra and Shri Haremdir ji Sahib in Bihar.

The Yogi government's pilgrimage scheme aligns with the state's ambitious vision of achieving a $1 trillion economy by leveraging its rich religious and spiritual heritage. The initiative is strategically positioned to boost religious tourism circuits encompassing major pilgrimage destinations that include Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura, and Prayagraj. The timing of this announcement is particularly significant, coming ahead of the Mahakumbh fair scheduled from January 13 to February 26, the conceptualization of which is expected to attract an estimated 660 million tourists and pilgrims. To capitalize on this massive influx and strengthen the state's spiritual tourism infrastructure, the UP government has allocated ₹4,560 crores for upgrading road infrastructure that connects various religious tourism centers.

The Chief Minister, Yogi, mentioned that the tourism policies will be implemented with efficiency and utmost transparency; the schemes will be administered entirely through an online application process in partnership with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), to ensure a transparent beneficiary selection while prioritizing economically disadvantaged applicants. “Pilgrimages are fundamental to spiritual upliftment and social harmony,” stated the Chief Minister during the conference. “Therefore, it is the state's responsibility to assist its citizens in visiting places of religious importance. These schemes should be implemented with a focus on the safety, convenience, and religious sentiments of devotees.”

The UP government's Buddhist Sikh pilgrimages initiative represents a cornerstone of the state's inclusive development policy. Chief Minister Adityanath highlighted that these programs will strengthen the spirit of "Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas" (Together with All, Development for All), demonstrating the government's commitment to support all religious communities. “This scheme will give a new dimension to religious harmony and tourism in the state, and further embody the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” the Chief Minister remarked, emphasizing how this initiative will contribute to national unity while boosting the state’s tourism sector.

The pilgrimage programs have been designed with particular attention to the safety, convenience, and religious sentiments of devotees. Officials have been instructed to implement both the Buddhist and Sikh pilgrimage schemes with the highest standards of service delivery. The comprehensive approach of these Uttar Pradesh pilgrimage subsidy schemes reflects the state government's commitment to making religious tourism accessible to all segments of society while maintaining the sanctity of their beliefs and the spiritual significance of these sacred journeys.