Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana launched in Chatrapur

74 senior citizens from Ganjam receive Lord’s darshan
More than 1.2 Lakh elderly to benefit in 4 years
Mahaprabhu’s spiritual aura and energy unparalleled: Minister Shri Jena
Understanding people’s needs, CM rolling out welfare schemes one after another: Minister Shri Jena

Chatrapur, dated 2026: Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath is the spiritual center of the Odia race and consciousness. Among all deities, Mahaprabhu Shri Purushottam is supreme, and among all spiritual centers in the world, Shrikhetra is the greatest. Every person of Odisha, especially our senior citizens—our elders—always remain eager for the darshan of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath and the Chaturdha Murti. Bathing in the Mahodadhi, having darshan of Mahaprabhu and partaking Mahaprasad is the greatest wealth and honor of every Odia. To facilitate easy and smooth darshan of Mahaprabhu at that sacred land, the State Government has introduced the Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana.

The Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana has been launched simultaneously in 5 districts of the State. While the Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated this ambitious scheme at Nabarangpur, the Commerce & Transport, Mines & Steel Minister Shri Bibhuti Bhushan Jena flagged off the pilgrimage buses under this scheme from the Anaslo Mini Stadium at Chatrapur in Ganjam district.

Our beloved Chief Minister is a man of the soil. He understands the feelings of common people. He knows the joys and sorrows of ordinary citizens; therefore, he is bringing one public welfare scheme after another. A few days ago, from the sacred shrine of Maa Taratarini, the Chief Minister launched the Kanya Vivah Yojana, and today he has launched the Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana, said Minister Shri Jena.
Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath has no hands, legs, ears, or eyelids; yet the spiritual attraction, visible emotion, and invisible force that he possesses are unimaginable, said the Minister. He also narrated folklore and mythological stories related to the battle between the crocodile and the elephant, the fraternal war between Bali and Sugriva, and the battle between Bhima and Duryodhana, describing the Lord’s arrival and the blight of the defeated warrior.

He requested the pilgrims to pray to Mahaprabhu for the overall welfare of their families and villages, and also for the welfare of Ganjam, Odisha, and the Government. In the first phase, 540 senior citizens from 5 districts of the State have received the opportunity for darshan of Mahaprabhu. From Ganjam district, 74 senior citizens have received the opportunity for darshan of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath. During the current year, around 5,000 eligible beneficiaries will have darshan of Mahaprabhu through this scheme. Over the next 4 years, 1 lakh 20 thousand senior citizens will be facilitated for darshan of Mahaprabhu, and if public demand increases, arrangements will be expanded for more people.

Age, distance, or financial constraints will no longer prevent our elderly devotees from receiving the divine darshan and divine experience of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath. Through this scheme, senior citizens, economically weaker devotees, and pilgrims will be provided free travel facilities to the Puri Shrimandir. The scheme will help fulfill the long-cherished dream of senior citizens aged between 60 to 75 years belonging to economically weaker sections and all widows up to 75 years of age to have darshan of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath at Shrikhetra Puri, the dignitaries mentioned.
In the first phase today, around 74 senior citizens from different parts of Ganjam district traveled from Chatrapur to Puri in two well-equipped air-conditioned buses. Escort officers and paramedical staff accompanied them to look after their needs. In the coming days, thousands of registered senior citizens of the district will avail the benefits of this scheme.

Under this scheme, all eligible beneficiaries will travel in air-conditioned buses, and arrangements have been made for their stay at Brindabati Nivas in Puri, along with Mahaprasad and four vegetarian meals daily. Arrangements have also been made for health check-ups for all.

On this occasion, along with Commerce & Transport Minister Shri Jena, Khalikote MLA Shri Purna Chandra Sethi, Chatrapur MLA Shri Krishna Chandra Nayak, General Manager of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation Shri Sanjay Biswal, Ganjam District Collector V. Keerthi Vasan, Additional District Collector Shri Pramod Kumar Prusti, Additional District Collector Shri Sunil Kumar Kerketa, Chatrapur Sub-Collector Shri Shibashish Baral, District Information & Public Relations Officer Shri Saurabh Pradhan, District Tourism Officer Shri Janaka Tarai, Additional Sub-Collector Shri Partha Hansda, and senior officers of the district administration, tourism and transport departments and other dignitaries were present.
On this occasion, five beneficiaries namely K. Chennaiah Reddy, Panchu Gouda, Deba Sahu, Pramila Rout and Uday Sethi were distributed necessary materials for the pilgrimage. They expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the State Government for all the facilities.

The audience was enthralled by the animal-mask dance performed by artists of Binchanapalli and devotional songs rendered by local singers.

Saurav Pradhan