Kurukshetra: Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday announced that the Somnath yatra from the state will begin on June 8 and urged people to follow the teachings of the Gurus.At an event under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana, he flagged off a special train from Kurukshetra to Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra, carrying over 800 pilgrims from nine districts.Saini interacted with the pilgrims, extended his wishes and said such journeys should inspire devotees to imbibe spiritual teachings.Representatives of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee felicitated him with a siropa and memento.Announcing the Somnath yatra, Saini said the temple symbolises India’s faith and cultural heritage, noting the Centre’s year-long “Somnath Swabhiman Parv” programme till January 2027.He said the Kurukshetra–Nanded train connects two key spiritual centres — Kurukshetra, associated with the Bhagavad Gita, and Hazur Sahib, linked to Guru Gobind Singh.The CM also cited a Swadesh Darshan heritage circuit covering Anandpur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, Chamkaur Sahib, Amritsar and Patiala.He said financial assistance is being provided for pilgrimages under various schemes, including Rs 10,000 under the Sindhu Darshan scheme, Rs 50,000 for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Rs 6,000 under the Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra Yojana for visits to Hazur Sahib, Nankana Sahib, Hemkunt Sahib and Patna Sahib.Saini added that land has been allotted to Gurdwara Sri Chilla Sahib in Sirsa and several public institutions in the state have been named after Sikh Gurus.
