The Goa government has flagged off the first pilgrimage train of the year as part of the MukhyaMantri Dev Darshan Yatra Yojana, which marks the start of its annual spiritual outreach to seniors.

On Friday, the special train departed from Margao Railway Station, carrying pilgrims to the revered Roman Catholic pilgrimage town of Velankanni in Tamil Nadu. The Mukhya Mantri Dev Darshan Yatra Yojana is a flagship initiative of the Goa Government, offering senior citizens a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit major religious destinations outside the state.

Passengers expressed happiness and gratitude for the initiative, appreciating the arrangements made by the authorities and sharing their excitement as they embarked on the spiritual journey.

The Minister for Social Welfare said that similar pilgrimage journeys to Ayodhya and other holy destinations across India will be organised in the coming weeks.