The Centre, in an effort to shift focus towards the Northeast, has decided to revive religious tourism in the region, beginning from Arunachal Pradesh.
In the state’s Tezu, the government has decided to develop ‘Parshuram Kund’ on Lohit River as a Hindu pilgrimage spot. Sources from the administration told News18 that grand plans have been made to revamp the ‘Kund’ on the lines of Ayodhya, Mathura, and Kamakhya.
An officer from the tourism department told News18: “We are now focusing on tourism. A huge number of people come here on Sankranti so we will have a proper place for them to stay. Three separate buildings for rest house and dining are being made.”
Sources said the government is also trying to link it to the main tourism package tour. Given that the site is located in one of the remotest places, there is an issue of connectivity, and thus the government is focusing on building roads.
Locals say there are various legends associated with the ‘Kund’, the most popular being that Parshuram was upset with the fact that he had beheaded his mother Renuka on his father’s orders. Soon after he carried out the act, his hands got stuck to his axe and even though his mother came back to life later, there was no relief for him.
To seek penance, Parshuram decided to go into deep meditation after which he washed his hands in the Lohit River. Immediately, his hands were set free from the axe, making the ‘Kund’ a holy site. Locals say since then, a huge number of saints and believers come to the ‘Kund’ during Makar Sankranti to take a holy dip.
One has to go down more than 200 steps to reach this ‘Kund’ after crossing several jungles and difficult terrain.
The local priest, while speaking to News18, said people realise the importance of Parshuram when they visit the site. “We can feel him here. Many people come here during Makar Sankranti. Thanks to the state government, now arrangements are being made for accommodation as well as feeding the pilgrims. It feels great that the government is now giving importance to this.”
Mahadev Naskar, a pilgrim who came from Kolkata with his wife, told News18: “We like coming to this place every year.”
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(With inputs from agencies)