Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday flagged off a special pilgrim train at Bhubaneswar Railway Station, marking the launch of the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Yatra–2026’.
The train carried more than 1,000 devotees from Odisha on a visit to the Somnath Jyotirlinga in Gujarat. The pilgrimage is part of a nationwide initiative celebrating India’s rich spiritual heritage and cultural identity.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the pilgrimage is much more than a train journey. “It is a grand journey of faith, devotion, and cultural pride. Lord Jagannath in the East and Lord Somnath in the West symbolise India’s spiritual unity and timeless civilisational values,” he said.
The yatra reflects India’s enduring cultural connections and reinforces the shared spiritual heritage that unites people across the country, said Majhi.
The first milestone marks 1,000 years since the 1026 attack on the Somnath Temple by Mahmud of Ghazni. The second celebrates the 75th anniversary of the temple’s reconstruction after Independence, inspired by India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
As part of the nationwide programme, thousands of devotees from different states are participating in pilgrimages to Somnath. Along with Odisha’s contingent of more than 1,100 devotees, over 1,000 pilgrims from Lucknow and nearly 1,300 devotees
The Chief Minister highlighted the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” approach, which promotes development while preserving cultural heritage.
Somnath has emerged as a world-class pilgrimage destination with modern facilities, including museums, exhibition galleries, sea-view pathways, and infrastructure developed under the PRASHAD Scheme, he said.
A unique feature of the pilgrimage is the transport of sacred offerings from Odisha to Somnath.
Holy water from the historic Bindusagar Lake in Bhubaneswar and sacred soil from the revered Kedar Gouri Temple have been sent to Somnath as symbols of the spiritual bond between Odisha and Gujarat.
These offerings represent centuries of Shaivite traditions and strengthen the cultural connection between the two regions.
Every pilgrim participating in the journey has received an “Om Namah Shivaya” booklet.
During their visit to Somnath, devotees will take part in temple darshan, grand evening aarti, Rudrabhishek rituals, continuous chanting of sacred mantras, and an advanced light-and-sound show showcasing the temple’s glorious history.
Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said Odisha is sending some of its most sacred cultural symbols to Somnath.
He emphasized that the holy water of Bindusagar carries Odisha’s message of devotion and spiritual unity to one of India’s most revered temples.
Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh was also present during the flag-off ceremony.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya, delivered the welcome address.
The Somnath Swabhiman Yatra 2026 stands as a powerful symbol of India’s cultural continuity, spiritual unity, and civilizational pride. By connecting devotees from different parts of the country, the initiative celebrates the nation’s shared heritage while inspiring future generations to remain connected to their roots.
