Hon'ble Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Nayab Singh Saini, flagged off a special pilgrimage train from Kurukshetra Railway Station, Kurukshetra, on 8 June 2026 under the Somnath Swabhiman Yatra. The train, carrying around 1,100 senior citizens & devotees from different parts of Haryana, departed on a five-day spiritual journey to the sacred pilgrimage centre of Somnath Temple in Patan, Gujarat.
The yatra has been organised as part of the nationwide commemoration of 1,000 years of the unwavering faith and devotion associated with Somnath and the commemoration of 75 years of its reopening in 1951. It forms a key component of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in January 2026 to mark a millennium of unbroken reverence for the sacred shrine. As part of this initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, citizens across the country are being offered an opportunity to undertake the pilgrimage to the revered Jyotirlinga and reconnect with the spiritual and cultural fabric of India.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Nayab Singh Saini expressed happiness that senior citizens were setting out on this historic pilgrimage. He described the occasion as a moment of deep spiritual significance and said it marked the beginning of a journey of devotion, faith, culture and eternal consciousness that would connect pilgrims to India's ancient spiritual heritage. He further added that it is the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that no devotee should be deprived of undertaking a pilgrimage on account of financial constraints.
During the pilgrimage, the devotees will visit Somnath Temple, participate in religious and cultural activities, and offer prayers at this revered site. The five-day journey has been carefully planned to provide a comfortable, safe and spiritually enriching experience for all participants.
Several such yatras are being organised across the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, enabling youth and devotees to connect with the eternal spiritual heritage and cultural consciousness of India.
