Bhubaneswar: A total of 775 senior citizens from six districts of Odisha embarked on a spiritual journey to Varanasi and Ayodhya Wednesday aboard a special train, as part of the state government’s initiative to facilitate pilgrimage for elderly citizens. Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan flagged off the special train from Bhubaneswar New Railway Station in presence of elected representatives and senior government officials.
The pilgrimage has been organised by the Tourism department, in collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) under the Mukhyamantri Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana, a flagship scheme aimed at helping senior citizens visit prominent religious destinations across the country. The pilgrims are accompanied by 25 officials who will assist them throughout the journey and ensure the necessary arrangements for their travel and well-being. They are scheduled to return November 2.
Addressing the gathering at the flag-off ceremony, Minister Harichandan extended his best wishes to the pilgrims and expressed hope that the journey would be spiritually enriching and memorable. He said the pilgrimage would take the participants from the sacred land of Lord Jagannath and Lord Lingaraj to the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya. During the pilgrimage, the senior citizens will have the opportunity to witness the Ganga Aarti, seek the blessings of Lord Kashi Vishwanath and offer prayers at the Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The minister also stated that the state government had made comprehensive arrangements to ensure a safe, comfortable and well-organised journey for all participants. As part of the departure ceremony, railway tickets and kit bags were symbolically handed over to the pilgrims. The pilgrimage marks the sixth phase of the MBNTYY for the financial year 2026-27.
The scheme is designed to enable elderly citizens to undertake religious journeys and experience country’s diverse spiritual and cultural heritage. According to official sources, around 8,000 senior citizens are scheduled to undertake pilgrimages in 10 phases during the current financial year. The destinations include Ayodhya, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Rameswaram and Madurai. Approximately 4,000 senior citizens have already visited various pilgrimage destinations under the scheme during the current financial year, official sources added. The initiative reflects the state government’s efforts to make religious travel more accessible to senior citizens, allowing them to visit important places of worship and fulfil their spiritual aspirations.
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