Religious tourism to strengthen Indo-Nepal ties, expedite development: Yogi Adityanath

Ayodhya, May 12: Receiving the bus from Janakpur in Nepal to Ayodhya in India, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath exuded confidence that this venture will help strengthen the cultural relations between the two traditional neighbour.

 

“Kathmandu to Kashi, and Janakpur to Ayodhya bus service would not only join the two destinations by road but also strengthen the cultural ties between the two traditional neighbours and expedite the pace of development”, he said while receiving the bus from Janakpur in Nepal on Saturday.

The bus was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday from Janakpur during his two day visit to Nepal. Janakpur is known as the natie place of Lord Rama’s consort Sita. The launching of the bus from there to Ayodhya was a diplomatic step by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further cement the cultural relations between the two countries that shared similar traditions and religious homogeneity from time immemorial.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received the Nepal pilgrims who travelled by that bus from Janakpur to Ayodhya on Saturday. The bus entered India from Gorakhpur and travelling along the Sant Kabeernagar Highway for some time it was received by the district and police officials and escorted to Ayodhya.

The Chief Minister welcomed the passengers by offering them saffron scarves to male passengers. State Tourism Minister Rita Bahuguna welcomed the women passengers coming from the same bus.

The welcome arch was decorated with flowers and a number of religious tableaux were present to receive the first time passengers of the cross-border bus service linking two neighbours as part of the “Ramayana Circuit” jointly inaugurated by Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and the visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.

Nepalese pilgrims who took this bus service from Janakpur, the birth place of Sita, expressed their happiness at taking the first journey to the land of Ram and said the 520-km trip was comfortable.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has also welcomed the bus service between Janakpur (Nepal) and Ayodhya (India). In a tweet he said that he was confident that the Nepal visit of Prime Minister Modi will strengthen the age-old friendship of the two neighbours.

The two countries share deep historical and religious relationship. Narendra Modi’s resolve of New India will be fulfilled with the blessings of Sri Ram and Mother Sita, the Chief Minister said.