BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday formally inaugurated the historic Somnath Swabhiman Yatra-2026, flagging off a special train carrying over 1,100 pilgrims from Odisha to the sacred Somnath temple at Prabhas Patan in Gujarat.
Describing the pilgrimage as more than a train journey, the chief minister said it symbolises Odisha’s faith, devotion and cultural pride. “This is not merely a rail journey; it is a journey of our cultural self-respect,” he said, adding that Lord Jagannath in the east and Lord Somnath in the west represent India’s enduring spiritual unity.
Majhi said the yatra forms part of the nationwide Somnath Swabhiman Parva, commemorating two major milestones in Indian history - the 1,000th year of the first invasion of the Somnath temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 CE and the 75th anniversary of the shrine’s reconstruction inspired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel after Independence.
As part of the nationwide pilgrimage initiative, similar trains carrying devotees from Lucknow and Delhi are also travelling to Somnath.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’ is reflected in the development of world-class pilgrim infrastructure at Somnath, including museums, exhibition galleries and facilities under the PRASHAD scheme,” Majhi said.
In a symbolic gesture of spiritual unity between Odisha and Somnath, sacred water from Bindusagar and holy soil from the Kedargouri temple in Bhubaneswar are being sent to Somnath through the special train for ceremonial offering. Each pilgrim has also been provided with an “Om Namah Shivaya” booklet.
At Somnath, devotees will participate in temple darshan, aarti, Rudrabhishek and Omkar chanting, and witness the temple’s history through a light and sound show.
Odia Language, Literature and Culture minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the sacred offerings from Odisha carry the state’s spiritual heritage and message of devotion to Somnath. Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh and secretary of the department Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya were also present.