169 Khordha Pilgrims Set Out for Varanasi, Ayodhya Under State Scheme ;

First batch of 127 flagged off; 42 more to join pilgrimage on Wednesday

Dillip Kumar Pattnaik

KHORDHA, OCTOBER 27: A total of 169 pilgrims from Khordha district will undertake a spiritual journey to Varanasi and Ayodhya under the Odisha Government’s Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme, which aims to facilitate visits to prominent religious destinations for elderly people.

The pilgrimage was formally inaugurated at a programme held at the District Culture Bhawan in Khordha on Tuesday. The first batch of 127 pilgrims from Khordha subdivision was flagged off, while the remaining participants are scheduled to join the group aboard a special train on Wednesday.

The programme was presided over by Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Safalya Mandita Pradhan. Khordha Zilla Parishad Vice-President Gopinath Maharana attended as the chief guest and inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
Addressing the gathering, Maharana described the initiative as an important welfare measure that enables senior citizens to visit sacred destinations outside the state. He said the pilgrimage would provide elderly people with opportunities for spiritual fulfilment, happiness and peace while strengthening their religious faith.

He urged the pilgrims to offer prayers at the holy sites for the happiness and prosperity of their families and for peace, progress and well-being across society, the district, the state and the country. He also wished them a safe, comfortable and spiritually fulfilling journey.
Additional District Magistrate Safalya Mandita Pradhan sought the blessings of Lord Jagannath for the safe journey and healthy return of all participants. She conveyed her best wishes to the pilgrims and formally flagged off the programme.
Khordha Block Development Officer Siddharth Pattnaik attended as the guest of honour and wished the participants a pleasant and trouble-free journey.

Medical examinations conducted before departure

As part of the arrangements, all the pilgrims underwent medical examinations to assess their fitness for the journey. After the health check-ups, they were transported to Bhubaneswar in four buses, with arrangements made for their overnight stay.
Another 42 pilgrims from the Bhubaneswar subdivision are scheduled to join the group on Wednesday, taking the total number of participants from Khordha district to 169. The pilgrims will then travel by a special train to Varanasi and Ayodhya, two of India’s most prominent religious centres.
The pilgrimage is being organised under the sixth phase of the Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme. Apart from Khordha, pilgrims from Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara and Dhenkanal districts will also participate in the programme.

Six escort officers deployed for pilgrims’ assistance

To ensure the safety and comfort of elderly travellers, the Khordha district administration has appointed six escort officers to accompany the pilgrims and provide assistance throughout the tour.
The team will be led by Swadesh Biswal, with Nibasa Nayak, Arabinda Nayak, Sangram Keshari Das, Padmanabha Pradhan and Padmanabha Mahapatra serving as the other escort officers.The administration has made arrangements to address the pilgrims’ health, safety and other requirements during the journey. The escort officers will assist participants, particularly elderly travellers who may need additional support, and help resolve any difficulties that may arise during the tour.
Among those present at the flag-off programme were Zilla Parishad Vice-President Gopinath Maharana, Block Development Officer Siddharth Pattnaik, District Tourism Development Officer Susmita Pradhan, District Information and Public Relations Officer Laxman Kumar Behera and Assistant Collector Rishabh Tripathy.
The dignitaries extended their best wishes to the pilgrims as the first batch embarked on the journey, marking the commencement of Khordha district’s participation in the latest phase of the state-sponsored pilgrimage programme.Editorial note: The original report states that 127 pilgrims from Khordha subdivision departed on Tuesday and another 42 from the Bhubaneswar subdivision will join on Wednesday.