Odisha Flags Off Shree Jagannath Darshan Yojana for Senior Citizens
Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida virtually flagged off the first pilgrimage under the Shree Jagannath Darshan Yojana for 2026–27.
A total of 910 senior citizens from Malkangiri, Koraput, and Nabarangpur districts began their sacred journey to Puri.
Between 20 September and 26 October, 10,434 pilgrims from 13 districts will visit Srikshetra, with the government targeting 30,000 beneficiaries this year and one lakh elders in the long term.
The scheme provides free health check‑ups, four vegetarian meals daily, kit bags, ID cards, cultural programmes, and temple darshan arrangements.
Each bus is accompanied by escort officers and paramedical staff.
Designed to support economically weaker senior citizens and widows, the initiative ensures age, distance, or financial constraints do not prevent devotees from visiting the Jagannath Temple.
Pilgrims are picked up from gram panchayats, moved to district headquarters, and then transported to Puri in dedicated buses.
Senior tourism officials and local MLAs joined the programme, underscoring the government’s commitment to blending devotion with structured public service.
