Odish Chief Minister, Mohan Majhi Flags Off Somnath Swabhiman Yatra 2026 from State Capital
Bureau,Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday flagged off the special Somnath Swabhiman Yatra 2026 train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station, sending over 1,000 devotees on a pilgrimage to the Somnath Jyotirlinga in Gujarat.
Describing the initiative as a journey of faith and cultural pride, Majhi said, “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.”
The yatra is part of a nationwide programme commemorating two milestones: 1,000 years since the 1026 attack on the Somnath Temple by Mahmud of Ghazni and the 75th anniversary of the temples post-Independence reconstruction inspired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” vision, the Chief Minister said Somnath has evolved into a world-class pilgrimage destination with modern facilities developed under the PRASHAD Scheme.
As a symbol of Odisha-Gujarat cultural ties, sacred water from Bindusagar and holy soil from the Kedar Gouri Temple were sent with the pilgrims. Devotees will participate in darshan, evening aarti, Rudrabhishek, mantra chanting and a light-and-sound show on Somnath’s history.
