Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a mass Kanya Pujan (worship of girls) program held on Tuesday at the Sanatan Dharma Temple premises in Premnagar, Dehradun. On this occasion, he extended greetings to the people of the state on the festival of Chaitra Navratri and said that it is not just a festival of faith, but a grand celebration of devotion, spirituality, and cultural values.
The Chief Minister described the worship of 1100 girls as extremely auspicious and appreciated the organizing committee. He said that such events play an important role in strengthening respect for women in society and reinforcing values like “Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter.”
He said that in Indian culture, girls are considered a form of the divine goddess and are given a highly respected place in scriptures. Daughters strengthen and enrich society through their values, affection, and sacrifice, and are strong carriers of culture and traditions.
He added that on this sacred occasion of Kanya Pujan, society should resolve to ensure every girl’s right to education, safety, and respect.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both the central and state governments are continuously working for the empowerment of daughters. Several initiatives have been implemented, including scholarships, distribution of bicycles upon entry into Class 9, financial incentives after passing Class 12, and 30% horizontal reservation in government jobs.
The Chief Minister said that financial assistance of up to ₹61,000 is being provided for the mass marriage of daughters of registered construction workers, and up to ₹55,000 for individual marriages. Additionally, financial aid of up to ₹50,000 is given to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and economically weaker sections as marriage assistance.
He further stated that the state government is committed to empowering daughters at every stage—from birth to education, health, and employment—through schemes such as Nanda Gaura Yojana, Gaura Devi Kanyadhan Yojana, Chief Minister Mahalakshmi Kit Scheme, and nutrition schemes.
He added that the nine days of Navratri are not limited to worship alone, but also provide an opportunity to strengthen the spirit of self-purification, service, and social responsibility. He urged all citizens to take a pledge to protect, educate, and support the progress of every girl.
After the program, the Chief Minister also visited a Gurudwara in Premnagar and offered prayers.
On this occasion, MLA Savita Kapoor, BJP Metropolitan President Siddharth Agarwal, Vice Chairman of the Disaster Management Advisory Committee Vinay Rohila, Vice President of Cantonment Board Dehradun Vinod Panwar, BJP leader Vinay Goyal, and other officials were present.
