The Chief Minister's Office of Haryana announced on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 that a special train will carry eligible devotees from Haryana to the Somnath Temple in Gujarat on 8 June 2026 under the Somnath Swabhiman Parv initiative, with registration closing on 6 June 2026.

What the announcement says

The CMO post, written in Hindi, describes the scheme as a 'सुनहरा अवसर' ('golden opportunity') for devotees of Haryana. The special train is being run under the Somnath Swabhiman Parv umbrella, and berths will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis — 'पहले आओ, पहले पाओ' — until seats are exhausted or the deadline passes. To qualify, an applicant must be a permanent resident of Haryana, aged 60 years or above, and have an annual household income below ₹1.80 lakh. Registrations must be completed online at saralharyana.gov.in before 6 June 2026.

Context: Somnath and its significance

Somnath Temple, located at Prabhas Patan in Gujarat's Gir Somnath district, is revered as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas — the most sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Hindu tradition. The temple draws millions of pilgrims annually from across India, but the journey can be financially and physically demanding for elderly residents of distant states such as Haryana.

Policy backdrop: state-sponsored pilgrimage travel

State governments across India have offered subsidised or free tirth-yatra travel for senior and low-income citizens since at least the early 2010s. Several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, have run dedicated Mukhya Mantri Teerth Yatra Yojana programmes that charter special trains to major Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain pilgrimage sites. The Haryana scheme follows the same established model: an income ceiling, an age threshold, an online portal for registration, and a first-come-first-served quota. The Saral Haryana portal — the state's unified citizen-services platform — is the designated registration gateway, consistent with the government's broader push to digitise welfare delivery.

Stakeholders and impact

The scheme directly targets low-income senior citizens — a demographic that often lacks the financial means or physical support networks to undertake long-distance pilgrimages independently. By capping eligibility at an annual income of ₹1.80 lakh, the government narrows the benefit to economically vulnerable households rather than offering a universal subsidy. The first-come, first-served mechanism means that awareness and digital access will influence who ultimately benefits, potentially disadvantaging residents in areas with limited internet connectivity or lower digital literacy.

What's next

The immediate focus is registration uptake on saralharyana.gov.in ahead of the 6 June 2026 deadline — just ten days away from the date of announcement. Should demand exceed available berths quickly, the government may face calls to add more trains or expand the quota. Analysts and welfare observers will also watch whether the Somnath Swabhiman Parv becomes a recurring annual fixture or expands to other Jyotirlinga destinations in future iterations.