MP Santosh Pandey Sends Off 876 Devotees from Durg and Bastar Divisions Amid Slogans of “Jai Shri Ram”
Published on: October 02, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
A wave of devotion and joy swept through Rajnandgaon Railway Station as Member of Parliament Santosh Pandey flagged off a special pilgrim train carrying 876 devotees to Ayodhya under the state government’s Shri Ram Lalla Darshan Ayodhya Dham Yojana. The train, comprising pilgrims from 13 districts of Durg and Bastar divisions, departed amid the resonating chants of “Jai Shri Ram” and the auspicious sounds of drums and cymbals.
Speaking on the occasion, MP Santosh Pandey expressed that the enthusiasm among devotees to witness the holy darshan of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya reflects deep faith and cultural unity. He reminded that Lord Ram had spent a significant period of his exile in Chhattisgarh, and every devotee desires to visit Ayodhya to pay homage. “Fulfilling the vision of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, the state government is ensuring free pilgrimages for devotees, bringing immense joy, particularly to pilgrims from the remote regions of Bastar,” he said.
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Mr. Pandey further noted that the initiative is helping integrate Bastar’s tribal population into the mainstream of national culture and heritage. Extending best wishes, he said the spiritual journey would strengthen faith, harmony, and devotion across the state.
Chairman of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, Mr. Neelu Sharma, highlighted the significance of the occasion coinciding with the grand festival of Navratri. He informed that this was the third consecutive special train dispatched from Rajnandgaon under the ongoing scheme. “Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, like a modern-day Shravan Kumar, is enabling devotees of Chhattisgarh to receive the blessings of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya and also darshan of Shri Kashi Vishwanath,” he remarked.
The departure ceremony was attended by Zila Panchayat Chairperson Mrs. Kiran Vaishnav, Janpad Panchayat Chairperson Mrs. Pratima Chandrakar, senior leaders including Mr. Komal Singh Rajput, Mr. Khubchand Parakh, Mr. Dilip Verma, Additional Collector Mr. Prem Prakash Sharma, SDM Mr. Gautam Chand Patil, and Deputy Director of Social Welfare Mrs. Vaishali, along with railway officials and employees.
The event turned into a spiritual farewell, blending faith, tradition, and state support, as devotees embarked on their sacred journey to Ayodhya.
