Chennai: In a significant initiative aimed at supporting senior devotees, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department of the Tamil Nadu government has announced a fully sponsored spiritual journey from Rameswaram to Kashi (Varanasi). The program, planned for the fiscal year 2025-2026, will select 600 eligible senior citizens from across the state for a free 10-day pilgrimage by train. Official notifications have been released, outlining the application process and eligibility criteria for this sacred trip.
The pilgrimage is designed to enable elderly devotees to visit two of India’s most revered Jyotirlinga sites—the Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram and the Arulmigu Vishwanathaswamy Temple in Kashi—without the financial burden of travel expenses. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the guidelines carefully and submit their forms before the impending deadline.
Eligibility Criteria and Application Process
The HR&CE department has established specific conditions to ensure the pilgrimage benefits those who need it most. Applicants must be permanent residents of Tamil Nadu belonging to the Hindu faith and must be between 60 and 70 years of age. A key criterion is an annual income ceiling of ₹2,00,000, necessitating an income certificate issued by a Taluk Officer.
Furthermore, applicants must provide a medical fitness certificate from a Civil Surgeon confirming their ability to undertake the 10-day journey. Proof of age, permanent address, and identity via Aadhaar or PAN card are mandatory attachments. The application form can be obtained in person from the local Zonal Joint Commissioner’s office or downloaded from the official HR&CE website, www.hrce.tn.gov.in. Completed applications must be submitted only to the HR&CE Zonal Joint Commissioner’s office corresponding to the applicant’s residential address by October 22. Applications sent to any other zone will be disqualified.
Selection and Journey Details
A total of 600 pilgrims will be selected, with 30 devotees chosen from each of the HR&CE department’s 20 Zonal Joint Commissionerate’s. The selection will be based on the recommendation of the Zonal Joint Commissioner. In the event of more than 600 eligible applications, a lottery system will be used to ensure fairness. Selected applicants may be taken in multiple batches over 10 separate trips.
The pilgrimage will begin and end in Rameswaram. Selected devotees are responsible for arranging their own travel to Rameswaram to commence the journey and for their return home after its conclusion. The HR&CE department will cover all expenses for the round-trip train travel from Rameswaram to Kashi and the stay during the 10-day period. Devotees are advised to carry only essential personal items and to avoid wearing expensive jewellery during the trip. The spiritual journey is considered complete only after the pilgrims return to Rameswaram and offer worship at the Ramanathaswamy Temple following their darshan in Kashi.