Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026 started from Tanakpur. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami sent off the first batch and wished the devotees a successful journey.
The holy Kailash Mansarovar Yatra operated from Uttarakhand was formally inaugurated on Sunday. Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami flagged off the first batch of the yatra from Sharda tourist accommodation house in Tanakpur. During this, he wished all the devotees a safe, prosperous and successful journey.
On the arrival of the Chief Minister, he was given a grand welcome with traditional Chholiya dance. He was also given a guard of honor by the police. After this, the Chief Minister greeted all the passengers by garlanding them with Rudraksh garland and Lord Shiva’s patka and after talking to them personally, they wished them all the best for their journey.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: Symbol of faith, spirituality and national unity
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is not limited to religious faith only, but it is also a powerful symbol of spiritual consciousness, cultural heritage and national unity. He said that it is only by the special grace of Lord Shiva that a devotee gets the opportunity to participate in this holy journey. He asked the passengers to face every challenge during the journey with patience, faith and positive thinking. Unwavering faith in Lord Bholenath makes even the most difficult situations easier.
Marginal areas will benefit from development by traveling through Tanakpur route
The Chief Minister said that Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also playing an important role in the economic and social development of the border areas. Through this yatra, devotees from across the country get acquainted with the culture, traditions and local life of the frontier villages. He appealed to the travelers to purchase local handicrafts, traditional products and other local goods, thereby providing economic benefits to local traders and artisans.
Government’s special focus on preserving Sanatan culture
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, many historical works are being done for the preservation and promotion of Sanatan culture across the country. India’s spiritual heritage is getting a new identity through the revival of ancient temples, development of religious places and their beautification. While wishing all the devotees, he prayed to Lord Shiva for a successful and happy journey of all.
Devotees appreciated the travel arrangements
The devotees participating in the yatra openly praised the arrangements made by the Uttarakhand government. Devotee Anil Kumar Jain, who is going on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for the seventh time, along with other pilgrims, said that this time the security, facilities and management are better than before, for which he expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the state government.
The first batch was welcomed in traditional style in Tanakpur.
The first batch that reached Tanakpur on Saturday evening was given a warm welcome with Chholiya dance, flower shower and flower garlands as per the traditions of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. On this occasion, a cultural evening was also organised, in which colorful presentations of folk culture and folk arts of Uttarakhand were given.
First group of 49 devotees, travelers from 13 states included
Manoj Kumar, manager of Sharda tourist accommodation, said that the first group includes a total of 49 pilgrims including a doctor. These include 34 male and 15 female devotees. This batch includes devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. This diversity reflects the cultural unity and integrity of India.
The senior and youngest devotees also became part of the yatra
Dr. Arun Kumar from Tamil Nadu is traveling as a doctor with the first batch. 68-year-old Purushottam Khandelwal from Rajasthan is the senior-most pilgrim in the group, while 21-year-old Harikrishna from Gujarat is the youngest devotee. This shows that faith in Lord Shiva is equally present among people of every age group.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra taking place through Tanakpur route for the second consecutive year
Due to the efforts of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is being conducted through Tanakpur route for the second consecutive year. With this, Champawat district has got a new identity in the field of religious tourism. Besides, there is also a significant increase in local hotels, transportation, business and employment opportunities.
The first batch left amidst chants of Har-Har Mahadev.
An atmosphere of spiritual enthusiasm was witnessed in the entire Tanakpur as the first batch left amidst chants of Har-Har Mahadev and Bam-Bam Bhole. Once again Devbhoomi Uttarakhand presented a unique example of its rich culture, tradition and hospitality.
On this occasion, District Panchayat President Anand Singh Adhikari, Divisional Commissioner and Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Rawat, IG Kumaon Nivedita Kukreti, Managing Director of Kumaon Mandal Development Corporation Vineet Tomar, District Magistrate Manish Kumar, Superintendent of Police Rekha Yadav, Sub-District Magistrate Pramod Kumar, ITBP, Army, SSB, Gref officials, devotees from different states, public representatives and a large number of local citizens were present.