1,060 Devotees Leave Vijayawada For Somnath Pilgrimage
The year-long national programme, being held from January 2026 to January 2027: Reports
VIJAYAWADA: A special pilgrimage train carrying 1,060 devotees from 21 prominent temples across Andhra Pradesh left Vijayawada railway station on Sunday for Somnath in Gujarat as part of the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv – 1000 Years of Unbroken Faith’.
Government Whip and Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, NTR district collector Dr G. Lakshmisha and endowments commissioner K. Ramachandra Mohan flagged off the 18-coach train from platform no. 1 amid religious fervour.
The year-long national programme, being held from January 2026 to January 2027, commemorates the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of the Somnath temple. The Centre launched the programme to mark 1,000 years since the attack on the temple and 75 years since its reconstruction in 1951.
The Andhra Pradesh government is participating in the programme through the Endowments and Language-Cultural departments. The pilgrims, accompanied by a 100-member cultural troupe, will represent the State’s spiritual and artistic traditions at Somnath.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Rao said the pilgrimage would showcase the country’s cultural heritage, self-respect and enduring faith associated with Somnath. He said the State government had made arrangements to provide all necessary facilities to the pilgrims.
Collector Lakshmisha said the special train comprised 16 sleeper coaches and two SLR coaches. The arrangements were made in coordination with the Union Culture Ministry, Gujarat government, IRCTC, Railways and various Andhra Pradesh government departments.
Endowments Commissioner Ramachandra Mohan said the 1,060 devotees were being sent free of cost from various temples as part of the national programme. Cultural department director R. Mallikarjuna Rao said the pilgrims would be provided local transport, accommodation and visits to prominent religious places in Gujarat for two days.
The pilgrims were drawn from temples including Srisailam, Simhachalam, Dwaraka Tirumala, Annavaram, Kanipakam, Srikalahasti, Mahanandi, Penchalakona, Kadiri and Indrakeeladri. The 100-member cultural troupe will showcase Andhra Pradesh’s traditional arts and cultural forms. Officials accompanying the group will monitor food, accommodation, drinking water and medical facilities throughout the journey.
