Kolkata: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday handed over grants of Rs 5 lakh each to 60 Rathayatra committees across the state. The CM also announced that the state will shower flower petals from a helicopter on pilgrims walking to Tarakeswar Dham during the holy month of Shravan.On Monday, during a coordination meeting held for the Rathayatra at Nabanna, Adhikari initiated the financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to about 60 traditional Rathayatra committees in the state. He also announced that service centres will be set up at 75 major venues and fairs under the initiative of the I&CA dept.The CM said the state was emphasising the preservation of tradition and culture alongside infrastructure development. He noted that while the govt’s role was previously limited to maintaining law and order, this is the first time the administration is actively supporting the Rathayatra celebrations. He also appealed to the committees to utilise the funds for preservation and renovation of ancient wooden chariots. The CM assured that any omissions or errors in the recipient list would be rectified in the future. He emphasised that Bengal is a hub of both cultural and spiritual heritage, noting that century-old Rathayatras spanning from Mahesh and Mahishadal to Cooch Behar, Kakdwip, Darjeeling and Digha are integral to this legacy.District-level Rathayatra committees also joined the meeting virtually.The CM stated that, weather permitting, the state would arrange floral tributes for pilgrims every Monday of Shravan. Reiterating that the aerial display is subject to favourable weather conditions, he added that lakhs of jal yatris undertake the annual pilgrimage, carrying holy water from the Hooghly at Sheoraphuli to offer prayers at the Taraknath temple in Tarakeswar.He said the move aims to honour the devotion of the pilgrims and reflects the govt’s intent to extend support to major religious events, drawing parallels to practices followed in several other states.The state has also planned extensive arrangements for this year’s Shrabani Mela. Service camps will be set up at five-kilometre intervals along the nearly 30-km pilgrimage route from Sheoraphuli to Tarakeswar. The camps will provide drinking water, ORS, first aid, rest areas and other essential facilities to devotees.Also, the govt has undertaken an infrastructure development project worth approximately Rs 15 crore for Tarakeswar Dham to upgrade the temple surroundings and improve facilities for pilgrims.Police assistance booths, temporary health centres and rest camps will also be set up at Tarakeswar, the Jalpesh Temple in N Bengal, and the Jayanti area near the Bhutan border as part of the state’s broader pilgrimage management plan. The CM will formally inaugurate the Shrabani Mela at Tarakeswar on Tuesday.The CM highlighted the ‘Tirthakshetra Circuit’ announced in the budget, stating that Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated this year for conservation and development of ancient monasteries and temples. Renovation will be undertaken at several historical religious sites, including Kiriteshwari. In addition, hospitals run by the Bharat Sevashram Sangha have been brought under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, and the govt has accepted several proposals submitted by the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. He also announced a corpus fund of Rs 5 crore for the conservation of the birthplace of Swami Vivekananda.
