Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 17 January launched Senior Citizens Pilgrimage Scheme here. CM said that just as you are going to do the pilgrimage with a happy mind, you should complete the pilgrimage in a healthy and safe manner and earn immense virtue and return home.
As many as 800 senior citizens from Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Dhenkanal districts started their journey from Bhubaneswar railway station today to pay obeisance to Shirdi and Nashik, the famous pilgrimage sites of Maharashtra. The Chief Minister flagged off the yatra by hoisting the flag with traditional pujas. He also travelled inside the train and wished the pilgrims all the best for the successful journey.
It is to be noted that the State Government has formulated the Senior Citizens Pilgrimage Scheme to fulfill the spiritual and religious aspirations of the senior citizens living below the economically backward and below poverty line of the state. This year, arrangements have been made for 8,000 senior citizens of the state to visit pilgrimage sites like Shirdi, Nashik, Kolkata, Dakshinkali, Kamakhya, Ayodhya and Varanasi in 10 phases. The pilgrimage train will run in two phases from Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rayagada and Balasore stations.
Addressing the senior citizens on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that as per the Sanatan tradition, it is everyone’s wish to visit some places of worship during their lifetime and seek the blessings of God. For some reason this is not possible. It is a matter of happiness that for you, the court of Baba Bholenath and Shirdi Sai has been locked and you are going for his darshan. He will pray to the Lord for the prosperity and well-being of the state and also for the well-being of himself and his family.
He further said that our temple tradition binds Indian culture together. In the past, temple traditions have been the centre of our cultural exchanges. The temple was the centre of harmony of our heritage, art, culture, sculpture and economy. That’s why every Indian always hopes to visit places of pilgrimage and temples.
The Chief Minister said that special officers, guides and medical teams have been arranged for the entire yatra time with the pilgrims so that they can travel smoothly and have darshan. All pilgrims have been allowed to travel from their villages to the railway stations where they are starting their journey. During the journey, they have been facilitated to stay, eat and drink as well as travel from the railway station to the pilgrimage site. The Chief Minister urged everyone to remain alert during the yatra and visit the shrine under the supervision of the officers and guides deployed.
At the end, the Chief Minister said that our new government is taking various steps for the safety of senior citizens of the state and for better living. If the senior citizens remain healthy, if they have a smile on their faces, that will be a big blessing for the state, especially for me.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Women, Child Development, Mission Shakti and Tourism, Prabhati Parida said, “The Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme is a unique programme of cultural tourism of our state. This pilgrimage will give you a new perspective and experience. Through this scheme, we are giving due respect to the wishes of our senior citizens. This scheme is fulfilling the dream of providing mental and religious peace to our senior citizens as well as undertaking pilgrimages.
Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Khurda MLA Prashant Jagdev, Jagatsinghpur MLA Amarendra Das, Brahmagiri MLA Smt. Upasana Mohapatra, Puri MLA Sunil Kumar Mohanty and Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh were present on the occasion. Balmukund Bhuyan, Special Secretary, Tourism welcomed everyone at the event.