A wave of devotion and joy filled Bhubaneswar New Railway Station today as 775 senior citizens boarded a special train to begin a memorable pilgrimage to the holy cities of Varanasi and Ayodhya.
The trip marks the commencement of the sixth phase of the Mukhyamantri Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana for the financial year 2026–27.
Shri Prithviraj Harichandan, Minister of Law, Works, and Excise, officially flagged off the pilgrimage train. Organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, in close collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the initiative offers senior citizens a fully supported, hassle-free spiritual journey.
Bridging Sacred Landscapes
Addressing the gathering, Shri Harichandan extended his warmest wishes to the departing pilgrims. He highlighted the spiritual significance of connecting the land of Lord Jagannath and Lord Lingaraj with Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi and Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya.
“This journey provides our senior citizens with a blessed opportunity to witness the mesmerizing Ganga Aarti in Varanasi, seek the blessings of Lord Kashi Vishwanath, and offer prayers at the historic Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. The State Government has ensured comprehensive, top-tier arrangements for their safety, health, and comfort throughout the trip,” Minister Harichandan stated.
To guarantee seamless coordination and provide on-ground medical and logistical aid, a dedicated team of 25 government officials is accompanying the 775 pilgrims. The travellers are scheduled to complete their pilgrimage and return safely to Odisha on November 2, 2026.
Regional Participation & Distribution
The current batch brings together devout elders from six prominent districts across Odisha:
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Cuttack: 197 pilgrims
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Khordha: 169 pilgrims
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Puri: 127 pilgrims
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Kendrapara: 108 pilgrims
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Dhenkanal: 89 pilgrims
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Jagatsinghpur: 85 pilgrims
During the flag-off ceremony, travel kits and railway tickets were symbolically presented to selected participants. Prominent leaders, including Ekamra MLA Shri Babu Singh and Pipili MLA Shri Ashrit Pattanayak, were present to offer their blessings and wish the pilgrims a smooth voyage.
Key Officials Present
The flagging-off event saw key administrative figures sharing their insights and reinforcing the government’s commitment to welfare initiatives for the elderly. Key speakers included:
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Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary in charge of Tourism
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Pratap Chandra Beura, Additional District Magistrate, Khordha
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R. Manoj Babu, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Khordha Road Division
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Dipankar Mahapatra, Director of Tourism
About the Scheme
The Mukhyamantri Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana is a flagship initiative of the Odisha Government designed to enable senior citizens—many of whom might otherwise lack the resources or assistance—to undertake fully sponsored pilgrimages to revered religious sites across India.
For the 2026–27 financial year, the state aims to facilitate pilgrimage journeys for approximately 8,000 senior citizens across 10 distinct phases. Destination routes cover major holy sites including Ayodhya, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Rameswaram, and Madurai. With today’s departure, nearly 4,000 senior citizens have already availed themselves of the scheme this financial year.
