Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel last week inaugurated the first phase of a tourism circuit project which seeks to retrace the path that devotees believe Lord Ram took with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman during his exile.

Inaugurating the three-day event at Chandkhuri, home to the ancient Mata Kaushalya Temple, Baghel said on Thursday that Lord Ram had a very deep connection with Chhattisgarh.

“Lord Shri Ram is in the heart and soul of every Chhattisgarhia. We Chhattisgarhia people know and believe Lord Shri Ram as Mata Kaushalya’s Ram, Bhancha Ram, Vanvasi Ram, Shabri’s affectionate and kind Ram,” said Baghel.

The chief minister further said that the profound influence of Lord Ram can be seen and heard in the lifestyle, folk culture and folk songs of Chhattisgarh. Lord Ram had spent about 10 out of 14 years of his exile in Chhattisgarh, he said.

While paying homage to Chandkhuri, considered the home of Lord Ram’s maternal grandparents, the chief minister extended Navratri greetings to the people. He said that not only Chandkhuri, entire Chhattisgarh is the maternal home of Lord Ram.

Referring to the colourful cultural and religious programmes to be organised for three days during Navratri at Chandkhuri, Baghel said artistes of national and international repute along with those of Chhattisgarh would perform during the event.

On the Ram Van Gaman Marg Tourism Circuit Project, the chief minister said the route, which is about 2,260km in length, is being developed from Harchouka in Sitamarhi of Koriya district to Ramaram in Sukma.

“Cultural heritage constitutes an important part of Chhattisgarh’s identity. Our government is conserving and promoting the faith centres of every section of society. Efforts are being made for the development of Ghotuls (tribal huts) and Devgudis (temple-like structures of tribal deities) to preserve the tribal culture and traditions in Bastar region from the archaeological Buddhist site in Sirpur,” said Baghel.

Terming Chhattisgarh as an emerging cultural hub, Baghel said: “The government is making consistent efforts to promote the culture of Chhattisgarh, its religious and archaeological sites, tourist places and the 5,000-year-old ancient theatre in Ramgarh of Sarguja at the global level.”

Bhupesh Baghel addresses the tourist circuit inuaguration programme Telegraph picture

Referring to Dongargarh, the city of Maa Bamleshwari, Baghel said the government was working to beautify all the places of religious and archaeological importance. He said that some people are trying to disturb the age-old tradition of peace and harmony in Chhattisgarh, but they will never succeed. Chhattisgarh has deep roots of tolerance, love and harmony, he added.

The programme was presided over by home and tourism minister Tamradhwaj Sahu.

The chief minister, ministers, MPs, parliamentary secretaries, MLAs, officers of corporations and divisions and thousands of devotees enjoyed bhajans presented by Padma Shri Kabir brothers and the performance of Manas Mandali of Nand Kumar Sahu.

Baghel also unveiled a 51ft statue of Lord Ram in the backdrop of a light and fire show at Kaushalya Mata Temple in Chandkhuri.

The renovation and beautification work of the temple has been done at a cost of Rs 15 crore 45 lakh. The work includes the grand gate on the premises, beautification of the pond around the temple, construction of attractive pathways and plantation. The main attractions for the devotees are beautiful gardens, a statue of Goddess Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu on the Sheshnag bed in the middle of the pond and a sculpture depicting “samudra manthan (churning of the sea)”.

On the tourism circuit, devotees will get darshan of Lord Ram at every step. Through this route, devotees would be able to experience the memories of Lord Ram from Koriya to Sukma district. Places related to Lord Ram’s exile period — Sitamarhi Harchauka (Koriya), Ramgarh (Sarguja), Shivrinarayan (Janjgir-Champa), Turturiya (Balodabazar), Chandkhuri (Raipur), Rajim (Gariyaband), Sihawa Saptarishi Ashram (Dhamtari), Jagdalpur (Bastar) and Ramaram (Sukma) — will be developed into world-class tourist destinations at a cost of Rs 133 crore 55 lakh under the project.

The project will not only boost rural tourism in the state but would also unleash the path to new global tourism opportunities, officials said.