On the auspicious occasion of Bhagwan Valmiki Prakatya Diwas, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini will step into the heart of Punjab — crossing state lines to lead a massive pilgrimage that stretches from Jalandhar to Shri Ramtirth, Amritsar on 18 October 2026. The Chief Minister's Office of Haryana announced his participation as the chief guest, signalling the event's stature as a landmark inter-state devotional gathering.

According to the announcement, CM Saini will begin the programme with a mata teka (reverence offering) at the ashram located in Shanti Nagar, before joining a public foot march alongside the faithful. He will then flag off a large convoy of pilgrim buses, sending tens of thousands of devotees toward the sacred site at Ramtirth.

50,000 Devotees Expected on the Jalandhar–Amritsar Route

The pilgrimage is expected to draw approximately 50,000 devotees from across various parts of Punjab, making it one of the largest community processions in the region around Valmiki Jayanti. The sheer scale — buses, a foot march, and a formal flag-off ceremony — reflects the deep organisational effort behind what is framed as a spiritual journey and a social message rolled into one.

The stated purpose of the yatra is to carry forward Bhagwan Valmiki's teachings on equality, brotherhood, and social harmony to the widest possible audience. Valmiki, the ancient sage credited with composing the Ramayana, is revered particularly among Dalit and marginalised communities as a symbol of dignity and wisdom — making his Jayanti celebrations both spiritually significant and socially resonant.

Haryana's CM Crosses State Lines — and What That Signals

Chief ministers participating in devotional events beyond their own state boundaries is not without precedent, especially when the occasion carries strong community significance that transcends administrative lines. The Valmiki community has a substantial presence across Haryana and Punjab, and CM Saini's presence at this cross-state yatra reflects a pattern of outreach to devotional groups that span both states.

The Shri Ramtirth site in Amritsar, the yatra's destination, holds deep religious significance — it is traditionally associated with the sage Valmiki himself, making it a natural anchor for celebrations of his Jayanti. A pilgrimage from Jalandhar to this site, with a sitting chief minister at the helm, elevates what could be a local observance into a statement of scale and solidarity.

With a vast convoy flagged off and a foot march uniting the devout, the message from 18 October will travel well beyond the Jalandhar–Amritsar highway — and CM Saini will be there to walk every step of it.