Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla today visited Kyarkoti village near Shimla to attend a ‘Gau Katha’ ceremony as the chief guest. He said that there was need to develop tourism facilities in the area to enhance its potential as a spiritual and cultural destination. He added that this was his first visit to the valley and he was mesmerised by its scenic beauty.
The Governor also participated in the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremonies of Shani Dham and Karm Ghat and offered fodder to cows at the newly established Govardhan Dham, evincing his support for cow welfare.
Speaking on the spiritual and social relevance of ‘Gau Katha’, the Governor said that such events were not just religious in nature, but also play a significant role in spreading social consciousness and preserving cultural heritage. “Cow is regarded not merely as an animal, but as mother in Indian tradition, offering nourishment, health and values,” he added.
The Governor commended the Govardhan Dham Welfare Society and local residents for their collective effort in establishing the ‘dham’ and associated religious sites like the Shani Dham and the Karm Ghat. “This initiative is not only about protecting cows but about awakening humanitarian values in society,” he added.
The Governor said that the milk of indigenous Himalayan cow contained medicinal properties beneficial to human health, “and its dung serves as excellent natural fertiliser, promoting organic farming and reducing dependency on chemical fertilisers”. He added, “Cow protection is not just an act of faith, but also a foundation for economic, social and environmental sustainability.”
He expressed confidence that the Govardhan Dham would evolve into a model centre for cow service and emerge as a prominent religious landmark in Himachal Pradesh.
The Governor called for collective action against drug abuse and warned that the identity of Himachal as ‘Devbhoomi’ (land of the gods) would be lost if drug addiction continued to spread. “The rising menace of synthetic drugs like ‘chitta’ has taken many young lives,” he said. He appealed especially to women to join the Drug-Free Himachal Campaign and safeguard the sanctity of the state.
The Governor’s wife, Janaki Shukla, and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh were also present during the event.
