The Samajwadi Shrawan Yatra has changed its direction this time with the Akhilesh Yadav government deciding to take the elderly to Gujarat and take them around all famous religious places free of cost.
A new lot of 1044 pilgrims will visit Dwaraka, Somnath, Nageshwar Jyotirling and Bhet Dwarika during their six-day tour to be conducted by IRCTC of the Indian Railways in collaboration with the Samajwadi Party government.
A government official said in lucknow on Sunday that the proposed yatra will start from lucknow on May 23. A special train carrying the pilgrims will return to lucknow on May 28 after covering all the religious places.
During the tour, the pilgrims would be provided free boarding, lodging and food besides medical facilities and other benefits. The selected pilgrims would also be provided free bus service from their respective districts to lucknow railway station.
Senior citizens interested to undertake the yatra have been asked to apply from their respective districts till May 15. At least 10 pilgrims would be selected from each of the 75 districts of the state.
“The selection of pilgrims will be strictly on first -come-first-serve basis. The pilgrims will have to apply on a prescribed form and teh respective DM will then send a proposal to the government. The list will be finalsied at the government level,” he said.
The official further informed that during the Yatra, elderly people are allowed to take one attendant with them. The passengers will carry details about their illness and medicines. Government will also send a doctor and para-medics with the pilgrims as its is committed to taking proper care.
"last month the state government had sponsored a Odisha Yatra where pilgrims were taken to Jagannath temnple at Puri and Konark. The pilgrims were also taken to Haridwar, Ajmer, Pushkar and some other religious places of the country," said the official.