The first Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme train of the 2026-27 financial year departed from Bhubaneswar New Railway Station on Wednesday, carrying 775 senior citizens and 25 escort officials on a special pilgrimage to Ayodhya and Varanasi.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Kendrapara MLA Ganeswar Behera flagged off the special train, marking the beginning of this year’s pilgrimage programme for senior citizens from across the state.
The pilgrims will visit important religious destinations during the journey and are scheduled to return to Odisha on September 7. The pilgrimage is being organised free of cost, with arrangements for food and other essential facilities provided to the beneficiaries.
Health Screening And Registration Completed
Ahead of the journey, the beneficiaries underwent health screening on Tuesday to ensure they were fit to undertake the pilgrimage. Registration and fingerprint scanning were also completed before their departure from Bhubaneswar.
District administrations arranged transportation for the beneficiaries from their homes to the railway station. Similar arrangements will be made for their return journey, with pilgrims set to be dropped back at their respective homes after reaching Odisha.
Pilgrims To Visit Ayodhya And Varanasi
The five-day pilgrimage will provide senior citizens with an opportunity to visit two of India’s prominent religious destinations.
In Ayodhya, the pilgrims are scheduled to visit the Ram Temple, while their itinerary in Varanasi includes witnessing the famous Ganga Aarti.
Tour guides have been deployed to assist the senior citizens throughout the journey. The government has also arranged health insurance for the pilgrims as part of the support provided under the scheme.
Deputy CM Highlights Government Support
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the government was pleased to provide senior citizens with an opportunity to undertake the pilgrimage.
She said the beneficiaries had undergone health screening and that district administrations had ensured transportation from their homes to the railway station. Arrangements have also been made to take them back home after the pilgrimage.
According to Parida, the presence of tour guides and the provision of health insurance are intended to ensure that the elderly pilgrims can undertake the journey comfortably and safely.
Scheme To Cover Senior Citizens Across Odisha
The pilgrimage programme will subsequently be organised for eligible senior citizens from all districts of Odisha. Wednesday’s departure from Bhubaneswar marks the first such train journey under the scheme during the 2026-27 financial year.
For many beneficiaries, the trip represents an opportunity to visit Ayodhya and Varanasi that they may otherwise have been unable to afford.
Several senior citizens expressed happiness at being able to undertake the pilgrimage without having to bear the travel and other associated expenses themselves. Many also thanked the state government for making the journey possible.
With organised transportation, food, health screening, insurance and tour guides, the initiative is aimed at allowing senior citizens to undertake the religious journey with greater convenience and support.
