---
title: "400 Senior Citizens From Jharsuguda Set Off For Puri Under ‘Shri Jagannath Darshan’ Yojana"
url: https://mediathepower.com/400-senior-citizens-from-jharsuguda-set-off-for-puri-under-shri-jagannath-darshan-yojana/
date: 2026-10-07
modified: 2026-10-11
lang: en
author: "Rajiv Singh"
description: "JHARSUGUDA — Under the Odisha state government’s senior citizen pilgrimage initiative, 'Shri Jagannath Darshan,' a special group of approximately 400 senior citizens from the Jharsuguda district officially departed for the..."
categories:
  - "News"
image: https://mediathepower.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Untitled-4-1024x683.jpg
word_count: 371
---

# 400 Senior Citizens From Jharsuguda Set Off For Puri Under ‘Shri Jagannath Darshan’ Yojana

**JHARSUGUDA** — Under the Odisha state government’s senior citizen pilgrimage initiative, **'Shri Jagannath Darshan,'** a special group of approximately **400 senior citizens** from the Jharsuguda district officially departed for the holy town of Shrikhetra, Puri, on Wednesday evening.

The journey was flagged off during a grand ceremony held at 5:00 PM at the local Manmohan Ground. **Shri Suresh Pujari**, Hon'ble Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, attended as the chief guest, alongside Jharsuguda MLA **Shri Tankadhar Tripathi**, who attended as the guest of honour. Together, they flagged off the state-run OSRTC buses carrying the pilgrims.

Speaking at the gathering, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari emphasized the state’s dedication to the welfare of the elderly. "The State Government is always committed to the welfare and dignity of senior citizens. In our culture, serving one's parents is paramount," Pujari said. He urged today's youth and Gen-Z to draw inspiration from the mythological character 'Shravan Kumar' to care for their parents, adding that the government feels privileged to act as 'Shravan Kumar' for the state's senior citizens by enabling this sacred journey.

MLA Tankadhar Tripathy echoed these sentiments, highlighting the cultural significance of the trip. "Visiting the holy shrine and having a glimpse of the Lord is a cherished lifelong dream for every Odia," Tripathy remarked, affirming that such community-focused initiatives will continue in the future

Before the departure, the visiting dignitaries boarded the buses to interact with the travelers and review their accommodations. Many pilgrims, including Khaturam Tanti from Brajrajnagar, expressed deep emotional gratitude to the administration for making the lifelong dream of a Puri pilgrimage possible.

To ensure the safety and well-being of the elderly passengers, the district administration has deployed a dedicated **'Shravan Kumar Team'** alongside a specialized medical team to accompany the caravan throughout the entire journey.

The event saw attendance from several prominent local figures, including Zilla Parishad Chairperson Smt. Tulabati Minz, Chief Development Officer Shri Biswaranjan Nayak, Additional District Magistrate Shri Brajabandhu Bhoi, and Sub-Collector Shri Sabyasachi Panda. The proceedings were coordinated by District Information and Public Relations Officer Ritakanti Baliyarsingh and Sub-divisional IPRO Krushnakeshi Baliyarsingh.

The convoy finally commenced its journey toward Puri amidst the traditional sounding of *Hulahuli* (ululation) and resounding chants of "Jai Jagannath" and "Haribol."