Hon'ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, flagged off a special pilgrim train as part of the ‘Swabhiman Swabhiman Yatra’ on June 15, 2026 from Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Odisha, with more than 1,100 devotees and travellers aboard. On this occasion, Shri Suryavanshi Suraj, Hon'ble Minister of Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Higher Education, and Sports & Youth Services, Govt of Odisha, was also present along with other dignitaries.
This Yatra has been organised as part of the Ministry of Culture's initiative to commemorate 1,000 years of unwavering faith and devotion associated with the sacred Somnath Jyotirlinga, as well as 75 years since the consecration of the current temple in 1951. Pilgrims from across Odisha, representing the cultural and spiritual heritage of India's eastern coast, have embarked on this meaningful journey to one of the country's most revered Sanatan shrines on the western seaboard. They are carrying the sacred waters of Bindusagar from the Ekamra Kshetra and the sacred soil of the Kedargouri Temple, a living symbol of the ancient Shaiva tradition, as an offering to Lord Somnath, establishing an unbroken spiritual bridge between Odisha and Somnath.
Addressing the gathering, the Hon'ble Chief Minister said, "This is not merely an ordinary train journey; it is a journey of our cultural pride."
The devotees are expected to participate in a range of spiritual and cultural activities at the temple, including Bhajan Sandhyas, Rudrabhishek ceremonies, Maha Aarti, and a Light and Sound Show, among others.
Under a special campaign titled ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is organising year-long programmes at the district and state levels, as well as at all 12 Jyotirlingas across the country, to mark this significant occasion. These initiatives aim to reconnect contemporary society, especially the youth, with the deeper dimensions of our heritage through curated cultural, spiritual, and educational engagements.
