Bhubaneswar: A group of 775 senior citizens from six Odisha districts left for Varanasi and Ayodhya on Wednesday under the Mukhyamantri Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana, marking the sixth phase of the state govt’s pilgrimage programme for 2026-27.Law, works and excise minister Prithviraj Harichandan flagged off the special train from Bhubaneswar New Railway Station. Twenty-five officials are accompanying the pilgrims to assist them during the journey. The group is scheduled to return to Odisha on Nov 2.The pilgrims include 197 senior citizens from Cuttack, 169 from Khordha, 127 from Puri, 108 from Kendrapara, 89 from Dhenkanal and 85 from Jagatsinghpur.
