As part of the Ministry of Culture's nationwide "Somnath Swabhiman Parv" campaign, a special train carrying 1,003 pilgrims to the sacred Somnath Jyotirlinga under "Chalo Chalein Somnath" initiative was flagged off from Mumbai on 5 July 2026 by Advocate Shri Ashish Shelar, Minister for Cultural Affairs, Electronics, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Government of Maharashtra.
The flagging-off ceremony was attended by Shri Sanjay Upadhyay, MLA from Borivali; Shri Harshvardhan Singh Rawat, Additional General Manager, IRCTC; Shri Amit Karwande, Additional Commercial Manager, Indian Railways; Shri Shiva Shetty, Corporator; along with other dignitaries, railway officials and devotees.
The "Chalo Chalein Somnath" campaign aims to connect devotees from across the country with the sacred Somnath Jyotirlinga while celebrating India's rich cultural heritage, timeless spiritual traditions and enduring civilisational values. The initiative also commemorates the historic legacy of the Somnath Temple as a symbol of India's cultural resilience and national self-respect.
The special train from Mumbai carries devotees on a journey dedicated to 1,000 years of uninterrupted faith and devotion, celebrating the enduring legacy of Somnath as a beacon of spiritual inspiration and cultural pride. More than a pilgrimage, the journey represents a collective celebration of India's civilisational heritage, unity and national consciousness.
Through the "Chalo Chalein Somnath" campaign, the Ministry of Culture continues to inspire citizens from across the country to reconnect with India's sacred heritage while reinforcing the values of faith, cultural continuity and national pride embodied by the Somnath Jyotirlinga.
