Odisha senior citizens begin pilgrimage to Varanasi and Ayodhya

A group of 775 senior citizens from six districts in Odisha has departed for a spiritual pilgrimage to Varanasi and Ayodhya. The journey was facilitated by a special train flagged off from the Bhubaneswar New Railway Station by Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan.

The initiative is part of the sixth phase of the Mukhyamantri Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana for the 2026-27 financial year. Organized by the Tourism department in collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the scheme aims to help elderly citizens visit prominent religious sites across India.

The pilgrims, representing districts including Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, Kendrapara, Dhenkanal, and Jagatsinghpur, will visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, witness the Ganga Aarti, and visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. They are accompanied by 25 officials to ensure their safety and comfort, with a scheduled return to Odisha on November 2.