Culture, Religious Trusts and Endowment Minister laxmikant Sharma flagged off a train under Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojna for Velankanni Church at Habibganj railway station here on Thursday.
This was the first train for Christian community under the scheme for their centre of pilgrimage Velankanni Church at Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu.
The train is carrying 1150 pilgrims from Jabalpur, Katni, Dindori, Mandla, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Balaghat, Seoni, Bhopal, Raisen, Sehore, Rajgarh, Hoshangabad, Betul, Harda, Jhabua and Alirajpur. The train that originated from Jabalpur will reach Velankanni Church via Meghnagar. It will return on April 9.
Minister laxmikant Sharma said that Madhya Pradesh’s novel scheme Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojna is being emulated by other states also. Under the scheme, free journey to 17 centres of pilgrimage of various religions is made available. So far, 82,000 pilgrims have availed benefit of the scheme.
Sharma greeted pilgrims with garlands Fr Saji of Asha Niketan Church, President of Madhya Pradesh Christian Assembly Babu Solomon Prasad, Alok Sharma and distinguished citizens were present on the occasion.