Thursday, November 21, 2024

Pravasi Bharatiya Express: A journey to reconnect Indian diaspora with their roots

  • The choice of January 9 for the tour’s departure holds historical significance

  • This date marks Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa in 1915, symbolizing a legacy of connection and service that resonates with the mission of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

The Indian government has launched the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, an exclusive tourist train aimed at strengthening ties between the Indian diaspora and their ancestral heritage, reported travelandtourworld.com.

This unique initiative offers Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), aged 45 to 65, a rare opportunity to reconnect with their cultural roots and experience India’s rich history and spirituality firsthand.

This program forms part of the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana, developed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)

Starting on January 9, 2025, the Pravasi Bharatiya Express will embark on a three-week journey from Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi, carrying up to 156 passengers. The itinerary includes visits to key cultural and religious landmarks across India, with stops at Ayodhya, Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Mahabalipuram, Rameshwaram, Madurai, Kochi, Goa, Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Ajmer, Pushkar, and Agra.

To make this experience more accessible, the Government of India will sponsor the train journey and cover 90% of participants’ airfare from their home countries. Participants will contribute just 10% of the flight cost, ensuring affordability for eligible PIOs.

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Roma Ghosh
Roma Ghosh
Roma Ghosh has recently retired as Associate Professor for Media Studies from an international university. She was with the Times of India as a correspondent for many years. Her passion is cooking and she has been doing recipes and photo shoots for Women's Era for the last 15-odd years.

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