Under the Rajasthan Government’s Senior Citizens Pilgrimage Scheme–2025, a total of 4,905 senior citizens from Jaipur district will be provided the opportunity for a free pilgrimage. On Tuesday, District In-Charge Minister Mr. Jogaram Patel, in the presence of Minister of Devasthan (Religious Endowments) Mr. Joraram Kumawat, conducted the online lottery and announced the successful applicants.
Minister Jogaram Patel stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Bhajanlal Sharma, the state government is committed to the welfare of all sections of society. “Senior citizens are our heritage. Their lifelong experiences and blessings guide society and the nation forward. This scheme enables them to connect with faith, spirituality, and religious energy at this stage of life,” he said. He emphasized that the pilgrimage scheme not only provides an opportunity to visit religious sites but also strengthens the morale of senior citizens.
Under the scheme, a total of 56,000 senior citizens across the state will get the benefit of air and rail travel. From Jaipur district alone, 4,905 citizens will be included — of which 526 will travel by air to Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath Temple, while 4,379 will travel by train to different pilgrimage destinations. The district had received 11,378 applications, representing a total of 18,423 applicants.
For those selected for rail journeys, the destinations include prominent pilgrimage sites such as Haridwar–Rishikesh–Ayodhya–Varanasi–Sarnath, Shikharji–Pawapuri–Varanasi–Sarnath, Mathura–Vrindavan–Barsana–Agra–Ayodhya, Dwarkapuri–Nageshwar–Somnath, Tirupati–Padmavati, Kamakhya–Guwahati, Gangasagar–Kolkata, Jagannathpuri–Konark, Rameshwaram–Madurai, Vaishno Devi–Amritsar–Wagah Border, Goa temples and churches, Mahakaleshwar–Ujjain–Omkareshwar–Trimbakeshwar–Grishneshwar–Ellora, Bihar Sharif–Patna Sahib, Hazur Sahib Nanded, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Joraram Kumawat said that the pilgrimage scheme brings spiritual satisfaction and peace of mind to senior citizens by providing them the opportunity to visit religious places. He added that the journeys also promote collective harmony, interaction, and stronger social bonds.
The scheme also includes special provisions:
Passengers above 70 years of age may take an attendant along.
If one spouse is 60 years or older and the other is 58 years, both are allowed to travel together.
The government has ensured arrangements for healthcare, security, and convenience during the journeys. Each group will be accompanied by medical staff, security personnel, and government officials.
The event was also attended by Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Rajendra Gehlot, MLAs Mr. Chandraprakash Aakya, Mr. Jivaram Chaudhary, Mr. Ashok Kothari, Ms. Priyanka Chaudhary, District Collector Dr. Jitendra Kumar Soni, Additional District Collector (IV) Mr. Devendra Kumar Jain, Assistant Commissioner of Devasthan Department (I) Mr. Ratanlal Yogi, along with other officials and public representatives.
.jpg)