Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited the Mukhimath Temple, a revered location in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, which is considered the winter residence of River Ganga. The temple lies in Mukhwa village and is of great religious importance.
PM Modi on his arrival offered traditional rites and worshipped Goddess Ganga. There was a huge gathering of devotees at the temple to receive him.
Every year, on the occasion of Diwali, the idol of Goddess Ganga from the renowned Gangotri Temple is ceremoniously relocated to the Mukhimath Temple in Mukhwa. This shift occurs as the Gangotri Temple remains closed during the winter months due to harsh weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.
For half a year, believers worship the idol at the Mukhimath Temple until the Gangotri Temple opens in summer. When the season arrives, the idol is brought back to Gangotri in a large procession accompanied by festivities.
Prior to his arrival at the temple, the Prime Minister touched down at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, where he was received by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
CM Dhami subsequently posted on X, saying, "Warmly welcomed and greeted the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji at Mukhwa (Uttarkashi), the winter seat of Maa Ganga. The arrival of the Hon'ble Prime Minister on the holy land of Harshil-Mukhwa is a historic moment."
Emphasizing the significance of the visit, he further said, "This visit of the Honorable Prime Minister is very significant in the direction of placing Mukhimath (Mukhwa) on the international tourism map and building the culture and religious heritage of the state."
We are all proud to be witnesses of this historic moment in Mukhwa. On behalf of all the citizens of the state, a warm welcome and greetings to the renowned Prime Minister on his winter visit to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand," CM Dhami further said.
Following the recitation of prayers at the Mukhimath Temple, PM Modi will be flagging off a trek and cycle rally and speaking to the crowd at Harsil Valley at approximately 10:35 am.
Before his trip, the Prime Minister expressed his excitement on X, stating, "I am extremely happy that the double engine government of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has initiated a special scheme for promoting winter tourism this year. While this is encouraging religious tourism, local small businesses such as homestays are also receiving opportunities to flourish."
Speaking with excitement, he said, "I feel very enthusiastic in going to visit the winter seat of Patit Pavani Maa Ganga at Mukhwa. The sacred place is renowned globally in terms of religiosity and remarkable beauty. But this is also a singular specimen of our resolve of 'Virasat bhi or Vikas bhi (heritage as well as development).'"
We are determined to further boost the state's economy by developing tourism in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. In this episode, I will have the chance to worship Maa Ganga in Mukhwa tomorrow morning at 9:30 am. Then I will talk to my family members in Harshil," he said.
The visit of the Prime Minister goes hand in hand with the newly initiated Winter Tourism programme in Uttarakhand, which already has thousands of pilgrims flocking to the winter pilgrimage points of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. It is meant to boost religious tourism while at the same time promoting local industries like homestays and tourism companies.
Additionally, a day before PM Modi’s visit, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), under his leadership, sanctioned two significant ropeway projects in Uttarakhand.
One of the projects is a 12.9 km ropeway between Sonprayag and Kedarnath, sanctioned at an estimated cost of ₹4,081.28 crore under the DBFOT model. The second project is a 12.4 km ropeway between Govindghat and Hemkund Sahib Ji, sanctioned at ₹2,730.13 crore.
According to the CCEA, not only will these ropeways enhance last-mile connectivity for pilgrims but also create huge employment opportunities during the construction phase as well as the operational phase.
Apart from enabling travel, these projects are likely to contribute significantly to the economy of the region, supporting industries like hospitality, tourism, food and beverages, and transportation.
Read also| Amid Backlash, Abu Azmi Retracts Controversial Remarks on Aurangzeb
