Jammu: Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta on Friday visited the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, popularly known as Tirupati Balaji temple, in Jammu city on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima and performed a ritual ‘abhishek’ of Lord Venkateswara.
On the occasion, the governor also highlighted the potential for an integrated spiritual tourism corridor between Jammu and Himachal Pradesh.
Gupta offered prayers for peace, prosperity and the welfare for all and said festivals such as Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima reflect India’s timeless spiritual and cultural traditions while strengthening the values of brotherhood, harmony and mutual respect.
Describing the Tirupati Balaji temple in Jammu as a significant addition to the region’s spiritual and cultural landscape, the governor said it provides devotees in Jammu and adjoining areas an opportunity to experience the sacred traditions associated with Lord Venkateswara.
He emphasised the potential for developing an integrated spiritual tourism circuit between Jammu and Himachal Pradesh, which have a rich legacy of temples, shrines and pilgrimage destinations.
Improved connectivity and coordinated promotion of these destinations could provide devotees a more enriching pilgrimage experience besides highlighting the shared spiritual and cultural heritage of the two regions, he said.
Such an integrated approach could give further impetus to pilgrimage and spiritual tourism while creating employment and economic opportunities for local communities, Gupta said, stressing that development of spiritual tourism must go hand in hand with preservation of the sanctity, heritage and cultural character of revered sites.
The governor also congratulated Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Army, police, Central Armed Police Forces and all other stakeholders who facilitated successful conduct of the 54-day Amarnath yatra.
He appreciated the dedication, coordination and preparedness of various agencies in ensuring the safety, security and convenience of pilgrims, saying smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage reflected the collective commitment of the administration, security forces, civil society and service organisations.
Gupta also expressed sorrow over loss of lives in devastating floods in Nepal and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
He prayed for peace and strength for those who lost their loved ones and for the recovery and well-being of all those affected by the tragedy.
The governor extended his greetings to people on Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima, wishing peace, happiness, prosperity and harmony for every family.
