Dehradun. This time the world famous Chardham Yatra 2026 of Uttarakhand was very special from the point of view of faith as well as business. While the amount of offerings and donations in the temples increased due to the arrival of lakhs of devotees from India and abroad, local businessmen, hotel operators, transport services and small shopkeepers also earned good income. The income of Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) from the offerings made by the devotees in the court of Baba Kedarnath and various religious services has crossed Rs 51 crore. At the same time, in the country’s first village Mana located near Badrinath Dham, the local business got a new impetus due to the huge influx of tourists.
The journey has now reached its final stage. The doors of Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath Dham have been closed for winter. The religious process of closing the doors has also been started in Badrinath Dham. This year’s Chardham Yatra will formally end with the closing of the doors of Lord Badri Vishal on 16th November.
Income of Rs 51.18 crore in Kedarnath
This year, the temple committee has earned a total income of Rs 51 crore 18 lakh 45 thousand 901 from donations, puja, thali offering and other religious arrangements given by the devotees in Kedarnath Dham. According to the data recorded till the doors closed on November 11, this earning is an important achievement for the temple committee.
If we look at the income figures, puja counter was the biggest source. From this the temple committee received about Rs 20.31 crore. At the same time, an income of Rs 10.40 crore was generated from the thali offered by the devotees. About Rs 8.58 crore was received from the primary darshan arrangements of the devotees who arrived by helicopter.
Apart from this, an amount of more than Rs 6.39 crore was deposited for donations and special puja through RTGS and cheque. The committee also got good income from general donations, atka and bhog system. It is clear from these figures that along with the faith of the devotees, the economic activities of Kedarnath Dham are also continuously increasing.
More than 19 lakh devotees visited Baba Kedar
This time the number of devotees in Kedarnath Yatra also created a new record. According to the available data, more than 19 lakh devotees reached Baba Kedar for darshan. Despite the challenges of difficult mountain roads and weather, the enthusiasm of the devotees did not diminish.
The local economy directly benefited from the increasing number of devotees. This travel season was very good for horse-mule operators, people associated with palanquin and dandi-kandi services, hoteliers, restaurant operators and other small businessmen. Activities worth crores of rupees were also recorded in business related to transport services.
Along with horse-mule, helicopter and shuttle services, there was movement of devotees at local shops also. This provided employment and income opportunities to thousands of people in the area.
Business benefits from influx of tourists in Mana village
Mana village located near Badrinath Dham also remained a major center of tourist attraction this time. A large number of tourists reached Mana, which is known as the first village of the country, during the Chardham Yatra. People come from different parts of the country to see the natural beauty, traditional lifestyle, local culture and religious importance here.
Local shopkeepers, handicraft sellers, food businessmen and other small traders benefited from the increase in tourist traffic. The purchase of local products and traditional goods supported the village’s business. Many devotees coming to Badrinath also visited Mana village for darshan.
In border villages like Mana, tourism activities are becoming an important means of livelihood for the local people. With the increasing number of tourists during the Chardham Yatra, self-employment opportunities also increase in these areas. However, there is no certified data available on Mana’s total business earnings.
Panch Puja to close the doors of Badrinath begins
The religious process of concluding the Chardham Yatra has also started. The traditional Panch Puja of closing the doors of Lord Badri Vishal for winter has started in Badrinath Dham. After worshiping Lord Ganesha on the first day of Panch Puja, the doors of the Ganesh temple were closed.
As per the scheduled schedule, the doors of Lord Badri Vishal will be closed on 16th November at 9.37 pm. After this, regular darshan will not be possible in Badrinath Dham for six months. During the winter season, the traditions of worshiping Lord Badri Vishal will be performed at the designated winter sites.
More than 22 lakh devotees visited Badri Vishal
This year the number of devotees in Badrinath Dham has also created a new record. According to the available reports, more than 22 lakh 70 thousand devotees reached here for darshan. Despite the cold and snowfall, the enthusiasm of the devotees remained intact. The movement of devotees continued in the Dham even in the last days of the Yatra.
Religious tourism becomes the basis of local economy
Chardham Yatra once again proved that religious tourism is an important basis of the economy of Uttarakhand. The Yatra brings income to the temple committees and on the other hand, provides employment opportunities to the local people. The livelihood of thousands of families is linked to hotels, homestays, taxis, horse-mules, palanquins, restaurants and sale of local products.
This time, businessmen got good profits due to the arrival of devotees in large numbers. Now after the yatra is over, local businessmen are preparing for the next yatra season.
