"Flower petals to be showered from government helicopter on Shrawan pilgrims," announces CM Suvendu

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that flower petals will be showered from a government helicopter on pilgrims offering water at Shiva temples every Monday during the month of Shrawan, subject to favourable weather conditions. The announcement was made during a virtual coordination meeting held ahead of Rath Yatra with MLAs, District Magistrates, and officials from various levels of the administration. The Chief Minister also said the Information and Culture Department would establish service centres at 75 traditional Rath Yatra fairs across the state with support from local Rath Yatra committees, district administrations, and the police.

The Chief Minister said the government would provide all possible assistance for the celebration of Rath Yatra, describing the promotion of culture and tradition as the government's responsibility. He also stated that financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each would be provided to 60 Rath Yatra committees and expressed hope that the funds would be used for maintenance and other necessary works. He added that efforts would be made to prepare an error-free list of beneficiaries in the future if any shortcomings were identified during the first year.

The Chief Minister said ₹1,000 crore has been allocated over the next two years for the renovation, maintenance, and heritage conservation of important monasteries, temples, and other religious places under the state's pilgrimage circuit programme. He announced that temporary health centres, police assistance camps, and resting facilities would be established along the Sheoraphuli-Tarkeshwar route for Shrawan pilgrims. He also said three Shiva temples—Tarkeshwar Dham in Hooghly, Jalpesh Temple in Jalpaiguri, and a Shiva temple in the Jayanti area—have been selected under the initiative, and that he will visit Tarkeshwar on July 14 and attend the ISKCON Rath Yatra in Kolkata on July 16.