In a ceremony that drew thousands of devotees to the banks of the Yamuna in Kalsi, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami lit 2,100 lamps, unveiled a statue of Goddess Yamuna, and laid the foundation stone for a new Yamuna‑Krishna Temple.
The event, held on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, was part of the ‘Lamp of Blessings’ programme that also saw local saints and residents lighting lamps in a display of collective devotion.
During the proceedings, the chief minister announced a Rs150 crore allocation for the Hanol Master Plan, a comprehensive scheme to upgrade roads, hospitality infrastructure, and amenities for pilgrims visiting the Jaunsar‑Bawar region.
Local resident Ramesh Kumar, who has journeyed to Kalsi every year for the festival, said the new temple will bring hope and stimulate the local economy, while the state plans to begin the first phase of the Hanol Master Plan within the next quarter.