Cover Story
Successive state governments have been promising to promote religious tourism in Himachal but standards are falling in this sector over the years. Though number of tourists is increasing gradually but devotees visiting famous temples of Himachal rue lack of facilities with majority of temple earnings spent on salaries of employees and maintenance leaving very little funds for developmental schemes to create more facilities. Devotees, espacilly those traveling on motorcycles and bicycles, visiting temples in Shravan navratras also flout all norms of motor vehicle act and traffic and goods transport vehicles can be seen devotees thus putting their lives in danger. Knowledgeable persons feel that there is need to put a system in place on the pattern of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to regulate, improve and promote religious tourism in Himachal
Temples Lack Basic Facilities
Kiran Sharma
The standard of religious tourism is falling in Himachal every year as offerings of crores of rupee are only filling state exchequer thus halting developmental works around famous temples located in the state. Known as land of gods and goddesses, this hilly state is famous for many ancient and established temples attracting devotees from across the country. Devotees are not getting enough facilities and the state government’s attitude is also apathetic to promote religious tourism. Land around these temples has not been utilized properly. Availability of rest houses and toilets around temples is insufficient. Though Himachal had also envisaged a master plan with regard to offering, including conversion of gold silver and ornaments into coins, on the pattern of Vaishno Devi but it has remained only in papers. Temple committees are reportedly extravagant in spending besides using temple vehicles to please VIPs. Recommendations of high powered committee regarding improvement of temples have not been implemented as 374 page report is confined to files of Language, Art and Culture Department. The government has acquired 28 temples whereas there are 25,000 small and big temples in Himachal, most of which are in a state of neglect. The government is yet to evolve a policy to free temple lands from encroachments.
* Special emphasis is being given to promote religious tourism in Himachal. There is a plan to construct sarais around temples and installation of CCTV cameras for security purpose
-Arun Sharma Director, Language, Art and Culture Department
Two Decade Old Master Plan at Kangra
The master plan envisaged by Brajeshwari Temple Trust included establishing a Vedic institute, ghat, bathrooms, museum and other schemes at Mata ka Naag land on Jamanabad Road proposed two decades ago is still incomplete. Under construction bathrooms at Ban Ganga have not been completed for the last three years besides others as majority of the earnings is spent on employees leaving nothing for the developmental schemes.
-By Rakesh Kathuria/Kangra
Annual Income Rs.4.5 Crore
Share of Priests Rs. 90 Lakh
Salaries Rs 84 Lakh
* There is no plan to complete the pending schemes and a decision will be taken in temple trust meeting
-Pawan Badiyal Temple Officer, Brajeshwari Temple
Master Plan for Naina Devi
Temple Trust has prepared a master plan for Naina Devi temple to boost religious tourism. It plans to seek financial help from Asian Development Bank for construction of multi-story parking and high tech circle road to streamline devotees. The temple is running a Plus Two school and a college offering courses of Acharya and Shastri. In addition the temple administration has planned various schemes to provide more facilities to devotees.
-By Vijay Thakur/ Bilaspur
* Temple administration is committed to promote religious tourism and develop Naina Devi as biggest religious tourist place in North India
-Madan Sharma Temple Officer, Naina Devi jurisd
Developmental Projects
* Rs. 35 lakh for construction of Sanskrit College
* Rs. 3 lakh for construction of rain shelter
* Rs. 10 lakh for rest house for devotees
* Rs. 5 lakh for rain shelter from Goofa to temple
* Rs. 9 lakh for expansion of langar building
* Annual Income Rs. 18.62 crore
* No. of temple Employees 145
* Salary of temple employees Rs. 1.41 Crore
* Salary of college employees Rs. 64 Lakh
* Salary of school employees Rs. 94.81 Lakh
* Share of Priests Rs. 3.17 Crore
Incomplete Projects at Chamunda
Though various schemes are being implemented to provide more facilities at Chamunda Temple, yet there are projects that have been lingering on for many years. Only one floor of proposed shopping complex has been constructed in four years. New shops have been constructed in place of old shops but controversy shrouds about their allotment thus posing inconvenience to the displaced businessmen. Priests get 40 percent share from Shiv temple earnings. Temple Officer Pawan Kumar says that priority would be given to completion of pending development works to provide more facilities to devotees.
-By Pawan Sharma/Dharamshala
Annual Income Rs. 6 crore
No of temple Employees 40
Annual Salary of Employees Rs. 1.32 crore
Schemes for Trilokpur Temple
The temple trust has envisaged many schemes including construction of canopy from main gate to temple and parking, by-pass road, old age home, modern toilets, sewerage line, overhead tank for drinking water supply and digging three borewells in mela ground besides promoting charitable activities. The temple trust has initiated various schemes to provide facilities to devotees who visit Balasundri Temple at Trilokpur
-By Surat Pundir/Nahan
Annual income Rs. 6 Crore
Employees 100
Salaries Rs. 2 Crore
Salaries Equal Earnings in Deot Sidh
Despite huge earning in the form of offerings by the devotees, there is hardly any amount left to carry out developmental activities in Babab Balak Nath temple in Deotsidh. The trust has to pay a heavy sum to its huge workforce in the form of salary and wages, thereby equaling the earning and spending, and leaving no scope and funds for development. There are various projects proposed like go sadan, new langar bhavan, sarai etc. which is still hanging due to lack of funds.
-By Ravinder Chandel, Hamirpur
Annual Income Rs. 19.32 Crore
Salaries Rs. 19 Crore (approx.)
Number of Employees 262
Priest Share 20% of profit
* Developmental works are going on in the temple, but still there is plenty of scope for development
-Akshay Sood Chairman, Baba Balak Nath Trust
Jwalamukhi Temple seeks Attention
A master plan was envisaged many years ago to develop temple premises and adjoining areas to provide facilities to devotees. However, it has not been translated into realty as yet. The temple trust has not constructed even one charitable sarai for night stay of devotees who also face difficulties in reaching temple through parikrama marg. There are 150 families of priests who take turns in performing aarti and they are paid thirty percent share from offerings. The temple admistration is also running a college, a Sanskrit college, dispensary, langar besides helping poor and needy girls
-By Shailesh Sharma, Jwalamukhi
Annual Income Rs. 8.5 Crore
Annual Expense Rs. 7.5 Crore
Number of Employees 102
Priest Families 150
* All facilities are being provided to devotees and many other schemes are in the pipeline to promote religious tourism here
-Devi Verma Temple Officer, Jwalamukhi
Chintpurni Still waits for Master Plan
Famous shaktipeeth Chintpurni Temple is still waiting for a master plan that can boost religious tourism in a big way. Temple administration had agreed to construct a gate after the name of martyr Amol Kalia but this project has not been completed even after many years. The administration has started construction of a multipurpose building having facilities like toilets, waiting room, langar hall and others. This 46 crore project will be completed with assistance of Tourism Department and Asian Development Bank.
-By Jatinder Kanwar/Una
Annual Income Rs. 29.15 crore
Total Expenses Rs. 22 Crore
* Rs. 3 Crore for salaries of 58 employees, 70 home guards and ex-servicemen deployed to look after security arrangements
* Nearly Rs. 10 crore annual share of priests
* Rs. 25 lakh on cleanliness
* Rs. 60 lakh assistance to needy persons
* Rs. 5 crore for maintenance of temple premises
* Temple administration has undertaken various development schemes, including Rs, 8 crore sewerage scheme, to provide more facilities to devotees
-Subhash Chauhan Temple Officer, Chintpurni
कुल्लू — रविवार को भुट्टी कलोनी में ठाकुर वेद राम राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार कार्यक्रम का आयोजन किया गया। इस मौके पर उपायुक्त कुल्लू राकेश कंवर ने बतौर मुख्यातिथि शिरकत की। वहीं कार्यक्रम की अध्यक्षता पूर्व बागबानी मंत्री एवं भुट्टिको के चेयरमैन सत्य प्रकाश ठाकुर द्वारा की गई। इस मौके पर सत्य प्रकाश ठाकुर ने भुट्टिको संस्था की विभिन्न उपलब्धियों को भी गिनवाया। कार्यक्रम में आए हुए हजारों लोगों को उपायुक्त कुल्लू राकेश कंवर ने संबोधित करते हुए कहा कि सहकारी सभाओं को बाजार की मौजूदा परिस्थितियों एवं मांग के अनुसार अपनी कार्यशैली व उत्पादों में आवश्यक परिवर्तन करने चाहिएं। रविवार को सहकारी सभा भुट्टिको के परिसर में ठाकुर वेदराम राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार वितरण समारोह में मुख्य अतिथि के रूप में शिरकत करते हुए उपायुक्त ने यह अपील की। इससे पहले उपायुक्त ने विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में सराहनीय कार्य करने वाले गणमान्य लोगों को ठाकुर वेदराम राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार वितरित किए। इनमें साहित्य के लिए नई दिल्ली के डा. ललित किशोर मंडोरा, प्रिंट मीडिया के लिए प्रवीण राय, इलेक्ट्रानिक मीडिया स्वर्गीय प्रेम सिंह ठाकुर, सहकारिता में उल्लेखनीय योगदान के लिए बिलासपुर के शंकर सिंह चंदेल, नई दिल्ली की वीना नावर व भुट्टिको की प्रेम लता ठाकुर को सम्मानित किया गया। वाराणसी के बुनकर जगरनाथ बनारसी, लाहुल के सुखदयाल व भुट्टिको की इंद्रा देवी को भी सम्मानित किया गया। लोक साहित्य का पुरस्कार डा. विद्यासागर नेगी, पहाड़ी कला-संस्कृति ईश्वरी दास शर्मा और पहाड़ी भाषा साहित्य पुरस्कार ऊधमपुर के शिव निर्मोही को मिला। कुल्लू के राम कुमार कपूर को लाइफ टाइम अचीवमेंट पुरस्कार दिया गया। भुट्टिको की कुसुम को उद्यमी बुनकर, शारदा देवी विशिष्ट शिल्पी, सफल सहकार राजकुमार और जाली गंठाई में पारंगत शकुंतला देवी को भी पुरस्कृत किया गया। इस अवसर पर उपायुक्त का स्वागत करते हुए भुट्टिको के अध्यक्ष एवं पूर्व बागबानी मंत्री सत्य प्रकाश ठाकुर ने बताया कि कुल्लू जिला की प्रसिद्ध सहकारी सभा भुट्टिको डेढ़ दशक से अधिक समय से ये पुरस्कार प्रदान कर रही है। समारोह में कर्नल प्रेम चंद, सिमर सदोश, वयोवृद्ध लोक साहित्यकार डा. एमआर ठाकुर, भुट्टिको के सभी पदाधिकारी और अन्य गणमान्य लोग भी उपस्थित रहे
कुल्लू — सच्चाई यह है कि केवल ऊंचाई ही काफी नहीं होती, सबसे अलग-थलग, परिवेश से पृथक, अपनों से कटा-बंटा, खड़ा होना पहाड़ की महानता नहीं, मजबूरी है। कवि ह्दय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी ने काफी साल पहले यह कविता मनाली के प्रीणी घर में ही रची और उस दौरान पीएम रहते हुए यहीं पर यह कविता सबको सुनाई। इसे काफी पसंद किया गया और पर्वतारोहण संस्थान में सजे कवि दरबार में इसके लिए उन्हें खूब वाहवाही भी मिली। विडंबना यह है कि पैरालाइज की वजह से पिछले तीन सालों से वाजपेयी बोल नहीं पा रहे हैं, सबसे अलग-थलग, अपनों से कटे हुए। वह और कविताएं रचना चाहते हैं, मगर सेहत साथ न देने में बेबस है। वहीं प्रीणी गांव में पड़ोसियों की मजबूरी है कि एक अरसे से वे अटल जी की झलक पाने के लिए तरस गए हैं। अब अटल के ही शागिर्द प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी इस रूप में एक उम्मीद जगा रहे हैं। स्वतंत्रता दिवस के खास मौके पर दिल्ली में अटल जी को भारत रत्न देने की तैयारी चल रही है। इस बार भारत रत्न के पांच दावेदारों में वाजपेयी का नाम सबसे ऊपर है। ऐसे में प्रीणी गांव में वाजपेयी साहब की कोठी की कई सालों से देखभाल कर रहे सुखराम से लेकर पंचायत प्रधान ठाकुर दास और अन्य पड़ोसी उम्मीद कर रहे हैं कि अटल जी को भारत रत्न से नवाजा जाता है तो केंद्र सरकार उनकी भावनाओं का भी ख्याल रखते हुए सम्मान समारोह में शरीक होने के लिए जरूर बुलावा भेजेगी। सुखराम तो मानों खुशी से फूले नहीं समा पा रहे हैं। वह कहते हैं कि मेरे साहब जी वाकई में भारत रत्न के सही हक दार हैं, उन्हें यह सम्मान काफी पहले ही मिल जाना चाहिए था। वहीं प्रीणी पंचायत के प्रधान ठाकुर दास के मुताबिक वे लोग उम्मीद कर रहे हैं कि अटल जी के पड़ोसी होने के नाते भारत 
The religious Manimahesh Yatra will begin on August 17 this year. The state government as usual has made various safety and security arrangements for tourists and devotees thronging the place during the holy yatra. The state government has made some mandatory safety and security arrangements for all devotees’ including compulsory registration for those who are taking part in the pilgrimage visit to Shri Manimahesh Kailash Yatra. The registration can be done at Kalsuine (15 km from Chamba enroute to Bharmour) or Hadsar (14 km from Bharmour enroute to manimahesh) and the passanger traveling by Helicopter should enroll at Bharmour. All pilgrims will receive a registration slip which should be submitted at above said stations before and after the yatra. The holy Yatra will begin from 17th August 2014 on the occasion of Krishna Janma-Astami. And the Yatra will end on 2nd September 2014 on the occasion of Radha Asthami.
A Non-governmental Organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level to plug in the gaps left by the government. Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to Governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of information. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, environment or health. India as a nation still has a large population that is vulnerable in terms of health, education, jobs and opportunities in general. This has also seen a large proliferation of NGOs. By some estimates, India has 3.3 million NGOs or one NGO for every 400 individuals. Out of it, 312 NGOs operate in Himachal alone. Himachal This Week has tried to bring to fore the working of genuine NGOs who work for the welfare of masses. This week will find the mention of the appreciable efforts of Koshish, Paprola which is working for the welfare of people in Paprola and Baijnath.
The NGO acts on social welfare projects as soon as it collects sufficient funds for the activity from its members and public. The NGO will continue the good work in future too.
बताया जाता है कि इस जंगल में कोढ़ से ग्रसित एक वृद्ध रहा करता था और कुष्ठ रोग से मुक्ति के लिए भगवान से निरंतर प्रार्थना करता था। उसकी साधना सफल होने पर उसे नागनी माता के दर्शन हुए तथा उसे नाले में दूध की धारा बहती दिखाई दी। स्वप्न टूटने पर उसने दूध की धारा वास्तविक रूप में बहती देखी जोकि वर्तमान में मंदिर के साथ बहते नाले के रूप में है। माता के निर्देशानुसार उसने अपने शरीर पर मिट्टी सहित दूध का लेप किया और वह कोढ़ मुक्त हो गया…
भारतीय परंपरा में विश्वास को संबंधों का आधार माना जाता है।रक्षा बंधन विश्वास को सहेजकर अपनत्व बोध पैदा करने वाला पर्व है। कहने को तो यह भाई-बहन का त्योहार है लेकिन इसके जरिए पूरा परिवार ही एकसूत्र में गूंथ जाता है। पहले रक्षा बंधन बहन-भाई तक ही सीमित नहीं था। आपत्ति आने पर अपनी रक्षा अथवा किसी के आरोग्य के लिए भी रक्षा सूत्र बांधने अथवा भेजने का प्रचलन रहा है…