Finance
On Monday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the historic Somnath Swabhiman Yatra 2026, Odisha’s participation in a nationwide pilgrimage initiative commemorating the 1,000th anniversary of the first attack on the Somnath Temple and the 75th year of its post-Independence reconstruction. More than 1,100 devotees boarded a special train from Bhubaneswar for the famed Somnath shrine in Gujarat.
Majhi flagged off the train, describing the pilgrimage as a voyage of faith, devotion, and ethnic pride rather than just a train ride. He explained that the yatra represents the spiritual connection between Lord Jagannath in the east and Lord Somnath in the west, symbolizing India’s long-standing traditions of unity and religious consciousness.
The pilgrimage is part of the year-long Somnath Swabhiman Parv, which is being organized across the country by the Union Ministry of Culture. The programme commemorates two significant milestones in the temple’s history: the 1,000th anniversary of Mahmud of Ghazni’s first invasion of Somnath in 1026, and the 75th platinum jubilee of the temple’s reconstruction after Independence, inspired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Large-scale pilgrimages are being organized from several states as part of the national effort. Similar yatras have already seen over 1,000 devotees embark from Lucknow and over 1,300 pilgrims depart from Delhi for Prabhas Patan, the location of the Somnath Temple.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” has found expression at Somnath through the development of modern tourism and pilgrimage infrastructure. He highlighted the creation of museums, exhibition halls, sea-facing pathways, and other facilities under the PRASHAD scheme, which have transformed the temple complex into a major spiritual and tourist destination.
As a symbolic gesture to establish cultural linkages between Odisha and Somnath, holy water from Bindusagar in Bhubaneswar’s Ekamra Kshetra and sacred soil from the old Kedaragauri Temple were delivered with the pilgrims as offerings to Lord Somnath.
Every devotee taking part in the yatra has been given a booklet with the sacred chant “Om Namah Shivaya”. During their stay in Somnath, pilgrims will participate in rites including Rudrabhishek, Akhand Omkara Japa, and evening aarti. They will also see a light and sound spectacle that highlights the temple’s rich history and legacy.
Speaking on the occasion, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the yatra carries not only pilgrims but also the spiritual heritage of Odisha. “The sacred water of Bindusagar is reaching Somnath Dham, carrying the devotion and blessings of the people of Odisha,” he said.
Babu Singh, MLA for Ekamra-Bhubaneswar, attended the flag-off event, and Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya, Director of Odia Language, Literature, and Culture, gave the welcome address.
The effort is designed to strengthen cultural and spiritual linkages between Odisha and Gujarat while emphasizing the idea of national unity based on a shared civilizational history.
