Latest news with #Yatra
India Gazette
4 hours ago
- India Gazette
Army Commander, Central command flags off Plastic Eradication Kaar Sewa for rejuvenation of Ganga New Delhi [I
New Delhi [India], June 2 (ANI): Atulya Ganga Trust, an Armed Forces veterans initiative dedicated to the sustainable rejuvenation of River Ganga since 2019, is undertaking a 'Plastic Eradication Kaar Sewa', with effect from June 5 to 7, a press release said. Its mission spans afforestation, pollution mapping, including measuring the presence of microplastics and raising public awareness to restore the river. The drive was flagged off by Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, GOC-in-C Central Command, at Lucknow on June 2. The ceremony was attended by Gopal Sharma, founder of the trust and Lt Col Hem Lohumi. Lieutenant General Vikas Rohilla, DG LWE and Colonel Commandant Bombay Sappers also graced the occasion. The initiative is being supported by the State administration of Uttarakhand, the Border Roads Organisation and the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. Corporate support is being provided by Bisleri. Atulya Ganga volunteers will assemble at Uttarkashi on June 3. On a daily basis till June 7, they will physically collect all the plastic waste littered on the roadside and on mountain slopes between Gangotri and Harsil. The collected waste will be handed over to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for further disposal. Through this initiative, the NGO aims to cultivate a mindset amongst the citizens and government machinery to recognise the urgent requirement of promoting sustainable practices to protect nature. Earlier, in April Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the government is preparing for the Green Chardham Yatra this time, a release from Uttarakhand CMO said. He said that the government's effort is not only to provide the pilgrims with pure food and a clean environment but also to prevent the problem of single-use plastic from arising at our holy pilgrimage sites due to the Yatra. We are working on the principle of reducing, reusing, and recycling single-use plastic, he said. (ANI)
News18
12 hours ago
- Business
- News18
Kedarnath Yatra Generates Rs 200 Crore In A Month Despite 31% Decline In Char Dham Pilgrims
Last Updated: Despite a 31% decline in Char Dham Yatra pilgrims, Kedarnath saw a business boom, generating Rs 200 crore in a month, benefiting hotels, helicopter services, and horse operators Even as concerns mount over a 31 per cent decline in pilgrim footfall across Uttarakhand's Char Dham Yatra this year, the Kedarnath leg of the pilgrimage is witnessing a dramatic upswing in commercial activity, generating business worth an estimated Rs 200 crore in just one month. The Kedarnath Yatra officially began on May 2 with the ceremonial opening of the temple doors to devotees. Since then, over seven lakh pilgrims have braved the treacherous 20-kilometre mountainous trek to reach the revered 11th Jyotirlinga nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas. According to local estimates, the hotel industry has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the pilgrimage, raking in nearly Rs 100 crore from bookings and stays. Helicopter services, which offer an aerial alternative to the grueling ascent, have brought in Rs 35 crore, ferrying around 33,000 devotees to Kedarnath by air as of May 31. Horse and mule operators, another critical cog in the pilgrimage wheel, have earned Rs 40.5 crore by transporting 1,39,444 pilgrims along the steep path. Further revenue has come from the state-run Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), which has generated over Rs 3.8 crore through bookings of rest houses and the now-famous meditation cave, popularised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in 2019. Meanwhile, the often-overlooked Dandi-Kandi services – manual palanquins used by those unable to make the trek – have witnessed a robust revival. With over 29,000 devotees availing these services, they have contributed Rs 1.16 crore to the local economy. More than 7,000 Dandi-Kandi operators are registered this year, highlighting the strong grassroots employment the Yatra continues to support. Yet, these record-breaking business numbers arrive against a backdrop of diminishing pilgrim presence across the broader Char Dham Yatra. According to a report by the Dehradun-based SDC Foundation, the Char Dham Yatra witnessed a 31% decline in pilgrim footfall during the first two weeks this year compared to the same period in 2024. As reported by PTI on May 15, a total of 6,62,446 pilgrims visited the temples of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri between April 30 and May 13 this year – down from 9,61,302 in the corresponding period last year. Head of the SDC Foundation, Anoop Nautiyal, attributed this steep fall of nearly three lakh pilgrims to military escalations between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in April. 'The military escalation between India and Pakistan in recent weeks has undoubtedly impacted public sentiment and travel confidence. There has been a slowdown in inter-state pilgrim movement, especially from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and parts of Rajasthan," PTI reported Nautiyal as saying. 'The Char Dham Yatra, being highly dependent on interstate mobility and group travel, has been directly affected," he added. Despite the decline, Nautiyal expressed cautious optimism that the Yatra could regain momentum in the second half of May and early June. 'Last year's data trends showed that the yatra typically peaks during the second fortnight of May and the first fortnight of June. With security conditions expected to stabilise between the two countries, we foresee a surge in footfall in the latter half of the month," he reportedly said. He also urged the Uttarakhand government to act decisively to boost pilgrim confidence. 'We need a similar proactive response in Uttarakhand," he said, citing how the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board had successfully launched awareness campaigns, strengthened on-ground facilities, and reassured pilgrims through targeted messaging. The SDC Foundation has further called for urgent implementation of recommendations made in its 2024 report, 'Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra: Pathways to Pilgrimage – Data, Insights, Challenges and Opportunities'. 'We had called for clear protocols on carrying capacity, crowd regulation, environmental safeguards, and real-time communication. Unfortunately, many of these remain unaddressed," Nautiyal noted. First Published: June 02, 2025, 17:36 IST
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Faith and fortune: Kedarnath yatra fuels Rs 200 crore economic boom in one month
DEHRADUN: The Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra, a beacon of faith for 800 million Sanatani Hindus worldwide, is consistently setting new benchmarks, with this year's pilgrimage already generating an astounding Rs 200 crore in revenue within just one month of its commencement. This spiritual journey is not only a profound experience for devotees but also the backbone of Uttarakhand's economy, with 'hotel operators alone accounting for over Rs 100 crore of this impressive sum,' official sources revealed. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami affirmed the Yatra's role as Uttarakhand's spiritual and cultural axis. He stated, "The government's goal is not just to provide facilities to pilgrims, but also to economically empower local youth, women, and traders."
India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
Number of devotees visiting Kedarnath Dham crosses 7 lakh, CM Dhami says goal is to empower locals
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 1 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra has become the axis of faith and culture of Uttarakhand. The government's goal is not only to provide facilities to the pilgrims, but also to economically empower the local youth, women and traders. CM Dhami said, 'We are trying to take every possible step towards making the journey safe, smooth and prosperous. Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra is setting new records every year. On the one hand, while the number of devotees arriving from the country and abroad to visit Baba Kedarnath is setting new records, the employment of local people is also getting continuous benefits from the increasing travel.' 'On the other hand, the government is also getting huge revenue from the facilities being provided by the government administration to the devotees arriving on the Yatra. One month has passed since Baba's doors opened, and in this one month, from government facilities to local traders, they have done business of more than two billion. Since the beginning of the month of June, the number of devotees has started increasing continuously, which will benefit the local traders and women self-help groups,' he said. For the year 2025, the doors of Baba Kedarnath Dham were opened for the devotees on May 2. One month has passed since the doors of Baba were opened. On Sunday, June 1, the number of devotees visiting Baba Kedarnath Dham has crossed 7 lakh. If the average of the last one month is taken, then 24 thousand devotees have reached Kedarpuri for Baba's darshan every day. Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra is one of the most difficult religious pilgrimages in the country. After crossing a difficult walking route of about 20 kilometres, one can have darshan of the 11th Jyotilinga situated in the lap of the Himalayan mountains. Horses and mules play a very important role in this difficult religious journey on foot. Incapable and elderly devotees often travel through them, while food items and other essential items are transported to the Yatra route and Kedarpuri by these horses and mules. Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Ashish Rawat said that till May 31, 1,39,444 pilgrims have reached for darshan through horses and mules, through which an income of more than 40 crore 50 lakhs has been received. He said that this year, due to the infectious disease equine influenza virus, horse mule operation was also affected for a few days. Heli services have an important role in the Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra. Through heli services, devotees who are unable to travel on foot in any condition get a chance to see Baba. At the same time, heli services are playing an important role in the rescue operation. Every day two to three people facing medical emergencies are rescued to higher centers on time through heli services. District Tourism Officer and Nodal Heli Service Rahul Chaubey said that this year, eight heli companies are operating from nine helipads. Till May 31, about 33,000 devotees have reached Baba Kedarnath Dham through heli services, due to which an income of about Rs 35 crore has been received. Chaubey appealed to the devotees to book heli booking from the official website of IRCTC. The operation of dandi-kandi is as important as the operation of horses and mules on the Shri Kedarnath Dham foot journey route. Many devotees who are unable to walk prefer to travel by dandi-kandi instead of dandi-kandi. It is also considered safer for small children. Apart from this, many devotees travel on foot themselves and reach Kedarpuri with the help of only similar dandi-kandi. Additional Chief Officer District Panchayat Rudraprayag Sanjay Kumar said that more than 7000 dandi-kandi operators are registered for this year's journey. Till May 31, 29275 devotees have traveled through dandi-kandi, from which an income of one crore 16 lakh, 89 thousand 100 rupees has been received. At the same time, fines of Rs 2,26,000 have also been collected by challaning various establishments for spreading dirt and violating other rules. Assistant Transport Officer Rudraprayag Kulwant Singh Chauhan said that this year 225 vehicles are registered for the shuttle service in Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra. Devotees reach Gaurikund from Sonprayag in these vehicles. So far more than seven lakh devotees have reached Shri Kedarnath Dham. Every pilgrim has to pay 50 rupees for going and 50 rupees for returning to Sonprayag. Till June 1, 7 lakh devotees have reached the Dham, which means till now taxi operators have earned about 7 crore rupees through shuttle service. This year, taking a new initiative, 25 vehicles have been reserved for women and the elderly. An average of 10 passengers can travel in each vehicle. Stickers have also been put on these vehicles. In the first phase, only 25 vehicles have been taken for this. If the experiment is successful and the need for more vehicles is felt, then the number of vehicles can be increased. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Number of devotees visiting Uttarakhand's Kedarnath Dham crosses 7 lakh
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra has become the axis of faith and culture of Uttarakhand. The government's goal is not only to provide facilities to the pilgrims, but also to economically empower the local youth, women and traders. CM Dhami said, "We are trying to take every possible step towards making the journey safe, smooth and prosperous. Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra is setting new records every year. On the one hand, while the number of devotees arriving from the country and abroad to visit Baba Kedarnath is setting new records, the employment of local people is also getting continuous benefits from the increasing travel." "On the other hand, the government is also getting huge revenue from the facilities being provided by the government administration to the devotees arriving on the Yatra. One month has passed since Baba's doors opened, and in this one month, from government facilities to local traders, they have done business of more than two billion. Since the beginning of the month of June, the number of devotees has started increasing continuously, which will benefit the local traders and women self-help groups," he said. For the year 2025, the doors of Baba Kedarnath Dham were opened for the devotees on May 2. One month has passed since the doors of Baba were opened. On Sunday, June 1, the number of devotees visiting Baba Kedarnath Dham has crossed 7 lakh. If the average of the last one month is taken, then 24 thousand devotees have reached Kedarpuri for Baba's darshan every day. Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra is one of the most difficult religious pilgrimages in the country. After crossing a difficult walking route of about 20 kilometres, one can have darshan of the 11th Jyotilinga situated in the lap of the Himalayan mountains. Horses and mules play a very important role in this difficult religious journey on foot. Incapable and elderly devotees often travel through them, while food items and other essential items are transported to the Yatra route and Kedarpuri by these horses and mules. Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Ashish Rawat said that till May 31, 1,39,444 pilgrims have reached for darshan through horses and mules, through which an income of more than 40 crore 50 lakhs has been received. He said that this year, due to the infectious disease equine influenza virus, horse mule operation was also affected for a few days. Heli services have an important role in the Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra. Through heli services, devotees who are unable to travel on foot in any condition get a chance to see Baba. At the same time, heli services are playing an important role in the rescue operation. Every day two to three people facing medical emergencies are rescued to higher centers on time through heli services. District Tourism Officer and Nodal Heli Service Rahul Chaubey said that this year, eight heli companies are operating from nine helipads. Till May 31, about 33,000 devotees have reached Baba Kedarnath Dham through heli services, due to which an income of about ₹35 crore has been received. Chaubey appealed to the devotees to book heli booking from the official website of IRCTC. The operation of dandi-kandi is as important as the operation of horses and mules on the Shri Kedarnath Dham foot journey route. Many devotees who are unable to walk prefer to travel by dandi-kandi instead of dandi-kandi. It is also considered safer for small children. Apart from this, many devotees travel on foot themselves and reach Kedarpuri with the help of only similar dandi-kandi. Additional Chief Officer District Panchayat Rudraprayag Sanjay Kumar said that more than 7000 dandi-kandi operators are registered for this year's journey. Till May 31, 29275 devotees have traveled through dandi-kandi, from which an income of one crore 16 lakh, 89 thousand 100 rupees has been received. At the same time, fines of ₹2,26,000 have also been collected by challaning various establishments for spreading dirt and violating other rules. Assistant Transport Officer Rudraprayag Kulwant Singh Chauhan said that this year 225 vehicles are registered for the shuttle service in Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra. Devotees reach Gaurikund from Sonprayag in these vehicles. So far more than seven lakh devotees have reached Shri Kedarnath Dham. Every pilgrim has to pay 50 rupees for going and 50 rupees for returning to Sonprayag. Till June 1, 7 lakh devotees have reached the Dham, which means till now taxi operators have earned about 7 crore rupees through shuttle service. This year, taking a new initiative, 25 vehicles have been reserved for women and the elderly. An average of 10 passengers can travel in each vehicle. Stickers have also been put on these vehicles. In the first phase, only 25 vehicles have been taken for this. If the experiment is successful and the need for more vehicles is felt, then the number of vehicles can be increased. (ANI)
