On the occasion of Ram Navami, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually addressed the Akhand Ramayana Paath organised at Maa Kokila Kothagyaari Temple in Pankhu, Pithoragarh.
He joined the event from his residence, according to a release from the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office.
Extending his wishes to the people of Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Dhami prayed to Lord Ram for their happiness and prosperity.
Speaking at the event, he said, "Ramayana is not an ordinary text but a mirror of our life, a guide of dignity, devotion, sacrifice, and religion. From the life of Lord Ram, we get to learn how religion and dignity are followed even in adverse circumstances. The purity of Mother Sita, the service spirit of Laxman, the sacrifice of Bharat, the devotion of Hanuman ji - all these ideals inspire us to good conduct."
He added that such spiritual gatherings play an important role in promoting peace and values in society.
"The events of Akhand Paath and holy religious texts like Ramayana purify our souls, make the environment sattvik, and connect society," he said.
Highlighting the significance of this year’s Ram Navami celebrations, the Chief Minister said, "It is a matter of great pride and joy for all of us that after a long wait of 500 years, Lord Shri Ram Lalla is celebrating the festival of Ram Navami for the second time by sitting in his grand temple in Ayodhya."
He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making the Ram Temple a reality.
"We are all fortunate that we have got such a Pradhan Sevak in the form of the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose unwavering resolve and tireless efforts have made our dream of a grand temple of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya come true," he said.
In his concluding message, Dhami urged people to follow the path shown by Lord Ram.
"We should adopt the ideals of Lord Shri Ram in ourselves and pledge to live with honesty, love, service and goodwill in the society," he said.