Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday formally inaugurated the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Yatra-2026’, flagging off a special train carrying more than 1,100 devotees from Odisha to the Somnath Temple in Gujarat.

The Chief Minister described the journey as a grand spiritual and cultural expedition reflecting the faith, devotion and cultural pride of the people. He said the spiritual connection between Lord Jagannath in the east and Lord Somnath in the west symbolises India’s unity, spirituality and enduring civilisational heritage.

Majhi said the pilgrimage is a part of the nationwide 'Somnath Swabhiman Parva', a year-long cultural initiative commemorating two significant milestones in Indian history. The first marks 1,000 years since the initial attack on the Somnath Temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026, while the second celebrates the 75th anniversary of the temple’s reconstruction after Independence under the inspiration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

As part of the programme, the Union Ministry of Culture has organised large-scale pilgrimage tours from different parts of the country. Besides the Odisha special train, over 1,000 pilgrims from Lucknow and nearly 1,300 devotees from Delhi are also travelling to the Somnath Temple.

In a symbolic gesture aimed at strengthening spiritual ties between Odisha and Somnath Temple, sacred water from Bindu Sagar in Bhubaneswar’s Ekamra Kshetra and holy soil from the historic Kedar Gouri Temple have been sent to be offered at the Somnath Temple.

During their visit, pilgrims will participate in temple darshan, witness the grand evening aarti, perform Rudrabhishek rituals, and experience a modern light-and-sound show depicting the rich history and legacy of the Somnath Temple.