Today, March 8, 2025, a special train carrying 800 elderly pilgrims departed from Berhampur, Odisha, for a state-sponsored pilgrimage to Varanasi and Ayodhya under the Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana (BNTYY). Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida flagged off the train, marking the second such journey from Berhampur this year. The pilgrims, aged 60-75, hail from five districts: Ganjam (443), Nayagarh (119), Boudh (55), Gajapati (72), and Kandhamal (86). Accompanied by 25 government officers, they are set to visit temples and mutts before returning on March 13.

Launched in 2016 by Odisha’s Tourism Department with IRCTC, the BNTYY aims to fulfill the spiritual aspirations of economically disadvantaged seniors. This year, the state plans to send 8,000 pilgrims to sites including Nashik, Shirdi, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Kamakhya, and Dakshineswar. Earlier, on January 17, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi flagged off a train from Bhubaneswar to Shirdi and Nashik with 775 pilgrims. Special trains operate from Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Rayagada, Sambalpur, and Balasore.

The government provides comprehensive support, including food, lodging, and medical care with doctors and nurses onboard. Posts on X from the Tourism Department and Parida confirmed the event, noting its significance in Ganjam, known as the sacred land of Maa Taratarini. This initiative underscores Odisha’s commitment to cultural and spiritual tourism for its elderly citizens.