850 Devotees Leave Bilaspur for Ayodhya Dham Under CM Vishnu Deo Sai’s Free Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme

Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme: Janjgir-Champa MP Kamlesh Jangde, Bilha MLA Dharamlal Kaushik and Bilaspur Zila Panchayat President Rajesh Suryavanshi, along with other public representatives, flag off a specially decorated train carrying 850 devotees from Bilaspur division to Ayodhya Dham at Bilaspur Railway Station in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme, which also includes a pilgrimage to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. Photo: primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

Special train flagged off from Bilaspur Railway Station as Chhattisgarh Government enables pilgrims to visit Shri Ramlala in Ayodhya and Baba Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, strengthening the state’s spiritual and cultural connections.

Key Highlights

• A special train carrying 850 devotees from various districts of Bilaspur division departed for Ayodhya Dham on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
• Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme provides eligible devotees with an opportunity to undertake a free pilgrimage.
• Pilgrims will visit the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.
• Janjgir-Champa MP Kamlesh Jangde, Bilha MLA Dharamlal Kaushik and Bilaspur Zila Panchayat President Rajesh Suryavanshi flagged off the train.
• Tourism and Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal is supporting initiatives to promote religious tourism and preserve Chhattisgarh’s spiritual heritage.
• District administration, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, Indian Railways and IRCTC are coordinating pilgrimage arrangements.
• The initiative reinforces Chhattisgarh’s cultural connection with Lord Rama, whose maternal home is traditionally associated with the state.

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Government’s ambitious Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme continues to fulfil the spiritual aspirations of devotees, with a special train carrying 850 pilgrims from different districts of Bilaspur division departing from Bilaspur Railway Station for Ayodhya Dham on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Operated under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the initiative enables eligible devotees to undertake a free pilgrimage to the sacred birthplace of Lord Rama. Amid an atmosphere of devotion, enthusiasm and chants praising Lord Rama, the pilgrims embarked on their religious journey, which will also take them to Varanasi for darshan at the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The initiative reflects the state government’s commitment to making important pilgrimage destinations accessible while strengthening Chhattisgarh’s cultural and spiritual traditions.

CM Vishnu Deo Sai’s Initiative Fulfils Devotees’ Long-Cherished Aspirations

The Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme, implemented under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s leadership, has emerged as an important initiative for devotees wishing to visit the grand Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

For many people, particularly those who may find it difficult to organise such journeys independently, the scheme provides an opportunity to fulfil a long-standing religious aspiration.

The state government has been facilitating pilgrimages through specially arranged trains, enabling devotees from different districts to travel together to important religious destinations.

The scheme also holds particular emotional significance for Chhattisgarh because of the state’s historical and cultural association with Lord Rama.

According to popular tradition, Chhattisgarh is regarded as the maternal home of Lord Rama, making Ayodhya especially meaningful to devotees from the region.

Through this initiative, the government seeks to connect people with the spiritual traditions that have remained an integral part of Chhattisgarh’s cultural identity for generations.

Tourism Minister Rajesh Agrawal Promotes Religious and Cultural Tourism

Under the guidance of Tourism and Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal, the state government is working to strengthen religious tourism and improve opportunities for devotees to visit important pilgrimage destinations.

The Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme forms part of the broader effort to encourage spiritual tourism while preserving and promoting the state’s cultural traditions.

Such pilgrimages provide participants with opportunities to experience the country’s religious heritage, visit historic temples and develop a deeper appreciation of India’s diverse spiritual traditions.

The initiative also contributes to cultural exchanges among pilgrims travelling from different parts of Chhattisgarh.

Devotees to Visit Shri Ramlala in Ayodhya and Baba Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi

The pilgrimage offers the 850 devotees an opportunity to visit two of India’s most revered religious destinations.

In Ayodhya, pilgrims will offer prayers and seek blessings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, where the consecrated idol of Shri Ramlala is worshipped.

The journey will also include a visit to Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and a major centre of Hindu spiritual traditions.

There, devotees will have the opportunity to visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The inclusion of both Ayodhya and Varanasi makes the journey particularly significant for devotees who wish to experience the spiritual traditions associated with Lord Rama and Lord Shiva during a single pilgrimage.

Beyond their religious importance, both cities possess a rich historical and cultural heritage that attracts pilgrims and visitors from across India and abroad.

MP Kamlesh Jangde and MLA Dharamlal Kaushik Flag Off Special Train

A special departure programme was organised at Bilaspur Railway Station to mark the beginning of the pilgrimage.

Janjgir-Champa Lok Sabha MP Kamlesh Jangde, Bilha MLA Dharamlal Kaushik and Bilaspur Zila Panchayat President Rajesh Suryavanshi joined other public representatives in flagging off the train.

The dignitaries extended their best wishes to the devotees for a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey.

The station witnessed an atmosphere of celebration as pilgrims gathered to begin their visit to Ayodhya Dham.

Many devotees expressed their enthusiasm through devotional chants, while the decorated train added to the ceremonial occasion.

The participation of elected representatives and officials reflected the importance attached to the pilgrimage programme.

District Administration, Tourism Board, Railways and IRCTC Coordinate Arrangements

The successful implementation of the Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme requires coordination among several government departments and institutions.

The district administration, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, Indian Railways and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) are involved in organising and facilitating the pilgrimage.

Officials and employees from these organisations were present at Bilaspur Railway Station during the departure ceremony.

The coordinated arrangements are intended to ensure that devotees from different districts can undertake their journey in an organised manner.

Special train services play an important role in transporting large groups of pilgrims and facilitating access to destinations that might otherwise involve considerable travel planning and expense.

Chhattisgarh’s Deep Cultural Connection with Lord Rama

The pilgrimage carries special significance because Lord Rama occupies an important place in the traditions, folklore and religious life of Chhattisgarh.

The state is traditionally regarded as the maternal home of Lord Rama, with Mata Kaushalya, his mother, closely associated with the region’s cultural identity.

References to Lord Rama are deeply embedded in local devotional songs, festivals, religious ceremonies and community traditions.

For generations, the Ramayana has influenced the spiritual and cultural life of communities across Chhattisgarh.

The Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme provides devotees with an opportunity to strengthen these connections by visiting Ayodhya, the city associated with Lord Rama’s birth and early life.

The journey also introduces pilgrims to other important centres of Indian spiritual heritage, reinforcing a sense of shared cultural identity.

Pilgrimage Promotes Social Harmony and Cultural Unity

Apart from fulfilling religious aspirations, the scheme brings together devotees from different districts, communities and backgrounds.

Travelling together provides opportunities for interaction, shared experiences and collective participation in religious activities.

Such journeys can help strengthen social bonds and encourage greater understanding of the country’s diverse cultural traditions.

The government’s initiative therefore extends beyond the organisation of religious travel and contributes to a broader sense of cultural belonging.

For many participants, the opportunity to visit Ayodhya and Varanasi is likely to remain a memorable spiritual experience.

Free Pilgrimage Scheme Strengthens Access to Sacred Destinations

The departure of 850 pilgrims from Bilaspur division marks another step in the implementation of the Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme.

By providing free pilgrimage opportunities to eligible beneficiaries, the Chhattisgarh Government aims to make important religious destinations accessible to a wider section of society.

The initiative also demonstrates how organised transport arrangements and coordination among government institutions can support large-scale pilgrimage programmes.

Under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s leadership, the scheme continues to connect the religious aspirations of Chhattisgarh’s people with the country’s major spiritual centres.

As the special train proceeds towards Ayodhya Dham, it carries not only 850 devotees but also their hopes of offering prayers at the sacred shrine of Shri Ramlala and seeking blessings at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

The journey represents another expression of the centuries-old cultural and spiritual relationship between Chhattisgarh and Ayodhya.