The Pilgrimage Wish Cherished for Years in the Eyes of the Elderly Comes True: 780 Devotees Depart for Tirupati, Madurai, Rameshwaram on the First Special Train
Widows and Abandoned Women Will Now Also Be Able to Avail the Benefits of Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana
Raipur, March 27, 2025/ Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today flagged off the first special pilgrimage train from Raipur Railway Station to Tirupati, Madurai, and Rameshwaram. This first pilgrimage train included 780 elderly devotees from Raipur and Balodabazar-Bhatapara districts, for whom this journey has become not only a religious experience but also a symbol of respect and affection. The long-standing wish of the elderly of the state was fulfilled today when Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai formally launched the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana.
While interacting cordially with the elderly going on the pilgrimage, Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the happiness on all of your faces is my satisfaction. He said that in Rameshwaram, you will be able to see the holy Ram Setu and have darshan of the Jyotirlinga. You will also visit Madurai Teerth, where the Meenakshi Temple is located. In Tirupati, you will have darshan of Balaji. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the pilgrimage sites of South India.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that under the Mukhyamantri Ramlala (Ayodhya Darshan) Yojana in the state, more than 22,000 devotees have visited Shri Ramlala in Ayodhya so far.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the Mahakumbh was organized in Prayagraj after 144 years. Pilgrims from Chhattisgarh also participated in the Kumbh in large numbers. We had prepared a Chhattisgarh Pavilion in the Prayagraj fair area to serve the pilgrims of Chhattisgarh and take care of their convenience. Here, there were arrangements for the accommodation of pilgrims in approximately four and a half acres. It is our good fortune that we were able to serve the lakhs of devotees of the state who came to bathe in the Ganges.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that now the journey of devotees will continue under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana. He said that we have made a budget provision of ₹15 crore for this scheme. In this scheme, many pilgrimage sites like Ujjain, Puri, Dwarka, Vaishno Devi, Mathura, Vrindavan have been added, for which free travel will be provided.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the desire of our elders to go on pilgrimage often remains unfulfilled due to financial difficulties. He said that we are satisfied that we are able to fulfill their wish. He informed that widows and abandoned women have also been included in the scheme, so that they too can have the honor of visiting religious places. He clarified that his government is fully dedicated to the upliftment of every section of the society, including youth, farmers, women, and the tribal community, and is continuously working in this direction.
This is Not Just a Journey, But a Confluence of Culture and Faith – Minister Smt. Lakshmi Rajwade
Minister for Social Welfare, Smt. Lakshmi Rajwade, said that Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana is not just a pilgrimage, but a living symbol of our Sanatan culture, traditions, and religious faith. She said that under this scheme, those devotees will get this opportunity who have been deprived of pilgrimage due to economic limitations so far. The government has prepared a fully equipped package for the devotees, which includes all the necessary arrangements like train travel, accommodation for the passengers, food, temple visits, security, and medical care. A team of tour escorts, police force, and doctors is also traveling with them in the special train so that the devotees can feel safe and comfortable at every moment. Under the scheme, 19 major pilgrimage sites across the country have been included, which include major religious places like Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Puri, Haridwar, Kashi, Shirdi, Vaishnodevi, Amritsar, Dwarka, Bodh Gaya, Kamakhya Temple, Sabarimala.
Social Welfare Minister Smt. Lakshmi Rajwade said that the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana was started by former Chief Minister Dr.