Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday flagged off a special train carrying around 1,400 pilgrims at Safdarjung Railway Station on the ‘Somnath Swabhimaan Parv – Somnath Yatra’.
Speaking on the occasion, Gupta described the Yatra as a historic and cultural initiative dedicated to ‘1,000 years of unbroken faith’ aimed at reconnecting the people of the national capital with the spiritual heritage. She said the Somnath Swabhiman Parv Yatra marks the completion of 1000 years of the revered Somnath temple. Efforts have been made to connect a modern city with culture, values of the Sanatan, and its roots with a resolve for the ‘development as well as heritage’.
The chief minister stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the entire country is observing Somnath Swabhimaan Parv. The initiative makes Delhi the first state to send nearly 1,400 pilgrims on such a large-scale and well-organised Somnath Yatra.
According to officials, the devotees on the spiritual journey will also be visiting the other prominent religious sites apart from the Somnath temple. The Delhi government is bearing the entire cost of rail travel and meals for the devotees, while the Gujarat government will arrange for their accommodation, local transport, and temple visits.
Close coordination between the two governments is expected to ensure a safe, seamless, and well-managed experience.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Shekhawat described the flagging-off from Safdarjung Railway Station as a ‘Shivmay Shubharambh’, an auspicious and spiritually significant beginning. He said the Yatra aims to showcase India’s cultural heritage and national pride through the timeless legacy of the Somnath Temple, adding that Indian faith is rooted in a spirit of harmonious unity.
The ministers, including Delhi’s Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, interacted with the pilgrims before seeing them off on the pilgrimage.
Gupta, while referring to landmark initiatives such as the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Mahakal Lok, and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, said these transformative efforts have given Indian culture a renewed identity and fresh energy, adding that the Somnath Yatra carries forward the same spirit. She reiterated that the Delhi government remains committed to strengthening citizens’ religious faith and cultural identity, and will continue such initiatives in the future.
Form Safdarjung Railway Station to Veraval in Gujarat, the special train will travel will travel through various religious sites including the Somnath Temple.
The scheduled return of the passengers to Delhi is on May 5.
The train has a total of 19 AC 3-tier coaches each coach with two dedicated team leaders to guide and assist the pilgrims throughout the journey while a team of doctors is onboard, along with housekeeping staff and Railway Protection Force personnel, ensuring health support, cleanliness and security.