PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra-2026 will be celebrated as a folk festival in the State and directed the State administration to prepare a SoP for better crowd management, ban on single use plastic and good environmental management during the religious Yatra.
The CM gave the order while undertaking a review meeting on the preparation of the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra with the officers of the State administration at the secretariat on Friday.
He said that maximum participation of the general public in the Yatra should be ensured while the government should play a supportive role. He said that the documents associated with the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra will be conserved.
Terming the Yatra as the heritage of the State, the CM directed the officers to publicise the Yatra in all parts of the world. He suggested that the help of Indian embassies should be taken in this endeavour.
The CM said that the Yatra should showcase the rich culture, customs, costumes and musical instruments and directed the Culture department to prepare a plan for this purpose.
He also directed the department to set up a system for regular and smooth payment of dues to the folk artists.
In the meeting, the CM suggested that the local public representatives and the officers should organise meetings with all the stakeholders and include their suggestions in the working plan for the Yatra. Cautioning that the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra is held in the high Himalayan regions which are environmentally sensitive, the CM stressed on better management of the Yatra.
He said that apart from the main route, alternative routes for the Yatra should be earmarked and small parking, drinking water facilities, toilets, eco tent colonies, arrangement of electricity and the beautification of the rivulets in the villages on the Yatra route should be done.
The CM directed that better mobile connectivity and network should be ensured and permanent and temporary works on the Yatra route should be identified.
He said that earth moving machines with operators should be stationed on the landslide prone areas along the Yatra routes
The Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said that the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra would commence on Nandashtimi of Badhra Paksha in 2026. The 20 day Yatra is the 280 km long journey of Goddess Nanda from her maternal home to the home of her in-laws.
MLAs Anil Nautiyal, BR Tamta, chief secretary Anand Bardhan, principal secretary RK Sudhanshu and other officers attended the meeting.
