New Delhi, April 23 -- The commencement of the Char Dham Yatra 2026 has been accompanied by a targeted outreach from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has framed the annual pilgrimage as both a spiritual journey and an opportunity to promote sustainability, local economies and responsible tourism.

In a message issued on the opening of Kedarnath Dham, the Prime Minister described the yatra as a "divine celebration" and urged pilgrims to adopt five key behavioural commitments. In a post on X, he said, "Today, on the sacred land of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, the doors of Shri Kedarnath Dham have been opened for all of us devotees with full rites and rituals. This journey to Kedarnath Dham and the Chardham is a divine celebration of our faith, u...