The State’s Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj along with ex-cabinet minister Amrita Rawat met the President Ram Nath Kovind along with wood craftsmen from Uttarakhand. They presented a Char Dham model made of wood to the President on the occasion.

During his visit to the President, the minister was also accompanied by craftsmen from Pithoragarh- Anil Kumar and Mukesh Koli. The craftsmen had for long been wanting to present the Char Dham model made by them to the President.  Fulfilling their wish, the State’s Tourism and Culture minister presented the wooden model to Kovind in their presence.

The President said that though he had earlier received models of different shrines in Uttarakhand, this is for the first time that he had received one model of all the Char Dham shrines. The President also said that he would keep the model in the museum. It is pertinent to mention here that wood craft is one of the traditional arts practiced in Uttarakhand. In the past, various wooden parts of a home built in the traditional architectural style were engraved with carvings of gods and other designs. However, this old craft is on the verge of dying out due to factors like use of modern styles for construction. The State’s Tourism and Culture minister has been making efforts to encourage this art and publicise it extensively. It was with this in mind that he met the President and gifting the wooden model of Char Dham shrines to him, also informed him about the wood craft of Uttarakhand.