Bhubaneswar: The first senior citizen pilgrimage train of 2026–27, carrying 775 eligible pilgrims from Odisha to Varanasi and Ayodhya under the Mukhyamantri Baristha Nagarik Teertha Yatra Yojana, was flagged off here on Wednesday from Bhubaneswar New Railway Station (Patia) by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida.
Flagging off the special train, Parida extended her best wishes for a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey, saying the pilgrimage from the sacred land of Lord Lingaraj to Kashi Vishwanath and Ayodhya would be a memorable experience for the senior citizens. She said the pilgrims would have the opportunity to witness the Ganga Aarti, seek the blessings of Lord Kashi Vishwanath and experience the divine presence of Shri Ram Lalla.
The Deputy Chief Minister further highlighted that the pilgrimage initiative enables senior citizens from different districts of Odisha to visit important pilgrimage destinations across the country and gain an understanding of their rich cultural and spiritual significance.
The first phase of the pilgrimage comprises senior citizens from six districts —Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Puri, Kendrapada and Dhenkanal. The district-wise participation includes 169 pilgrims from Khordha, 85 from Jagatsinghpur, 197 from Kataka, 127 from Puri, 108 from Kendrapada and 89 from Dhenkanal.
Of the 775 pilgrims undertaking the journey, 333 are women and 432 are men. To ensure the safety, comfort and well-being of the pilgrims throughout the journey, 25 escort officers have also accompanied them.
Addressing the pilgrims on the occasion, Minister for Industries, Skill Development & Technical Education Sampad Chandra Swain and Ganeshwar Behera, MLA, Kendrapada, extended their greetings and best wishes for a safe and successful pilgrimage. Railway tickets and kit bags were also ceremonially distributed to the pilgrims.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Tourism Department, Balwant Singh; Khordha Collector Amrit Ruturaj; Additional DRM, Khurda Road Division, Pradip Kumar Behera; Regional Manager, IRCTC, Anuj Dutta; and Director, Tourism Department, Dipankar Mahapatra, among other senior officials, were present on the occasion and addressed the gathering.
Under the Mukhyamantri Teertha Yatra Yojana, 8,000 senior citizens will undertake pilgrimage journeys in 10 phases during 2026–27. The destinations covered under the programme include Ayodhya, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Rameswaram and Madurai.