In a remarkable initiative, the Madhya Pradesh government organized a free pilgrimage for 32 senior citizens from the state.
The journey commenced from Bhopal and their destination was Prayagraj.
This pioneering effort by the government makes Madhya Pradesh the first state in India to provide air travel facility for senior citizens embarking on a pilgrimage.
Chief Minister Leads the Way
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan personally oversaw the proceedings as he arrived at Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj airport on Sunday morning.
Under the ‘Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana’, he ensured that 32 elderly pilgrims, including 24 men and eight women, were sent off to Prayagraj from the Bhopal airport.
Fulfilling Dreams and Making History
Expressing his joy and fulfillment, the Chief Minister highlighted that a long-awaited dream has finally become a reality.
He emphasized the significance of elderly individuals, like his own parents, being able to undertake a pilgrimage by airplane.
The Chief Minister shared that, thus far, a remarkable 7.82 lakh senior citizens have already benefited from the pilgrimage scheme, which involved 782 special trains.
Devotees Take Flight to Prayagraj
Amidst the chants of “Hail to Tirtharaj Prayag… Glory to Lord Veni Madhav…”, the first group of pilgrims arrived in Prayagraj by airplane.
A 73-year-old pilgrim named Kusumbai from Bhopal joyfully took a holy dip in the sacred Sangam on Sunday evening.
Accompanied by 31 other pilgrims, they became the first group to reach the Sangam via airplane, marking a special milestone in their spiritual journey.