Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday, 24 May 2026, inaugurated the newly constructed dharamshala built by Shri Anand Dharamshala Trust in Haridwar, praising the facility as a symbol of service and devotion that will benefit lakhs of pilgrims during the Char Dham Yatra and the upcoming Haridwar Kumbh Mela.

Context

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, CM Dhami described the dharamshala as a 'punya aur sarahniya karya' (meritorious and commendable work), noting that Haridwar serves as the spiritual gateway of India and the cradle of Sanatan culture. He said the facility will provide organised and safe accommodation for pilgrims arriving from across the country and abroad who seek faith and spiritual energy on the banks of the Ganga.

The Chief Minister also lauded the Kshatriya Kalota community, stating that it has played a significant role in nation-building through agriculture, trade, education, social service and national defence. He noted that brave sons of the community are strengthening India's borders and internal security by serving in the Indian Army, Central Armed Police Forces and other security establishments.

Policy Backdrop

CM Dhami stated that the state government is working under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the 2027 Haridwar Kumbh grand, divine and safe. He said work is progressing rapidly on ghat restoration, road infrastructure, sanitation, traffic management and basic amenities so that every pilgrim receives an organised and secure experience.

The Chief Minister also invoked the state's Uniform Civil Code (UCC), describing its implementation as a historic step to ensure equal rights and justice for all citizens of Uttarakhand. He called it an important decision in the direction of honouring women and establishing a just society. Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to enact and begin implementing the UCC in 2024.

Stakeholders and Impact

The new dharamshala is expected to serve lakhs of pilgrims who visit Haridwar annually for the Char Dham Yatra as well as those who will converge for the Kumbh Mela. The Shri Anand Dharamshala Trust was cited by the Chief Minister for its work in religious awakening, cultural preservation and human welfare.

CM Dhami also reiterated the state government's commitment to maintaining law and order and social harmony, directing that religious events be held only at designated sites to avoid inconvenience to the general public. Senior officials present at the ceremony included DM Haridwar Mayur Dixit, SSP Haridwar Navneet Singh Bhullar and SSP Dehradun Pramendra Singh Dobhal.

Among the dignitaries were Shri Hari Chetananand Maharaj Mahamandaleshwar, Kailash Vijayvargiya (Minister of Civil Administration, Madhya Pradesh), Vinay Rohila (Vice-Chairman, State Disaster Management), former MLA Vishal Patel of Depalpur Indore, and BJP District President Ashutosh Sharma.

What's Next

With the 2027 Haridwar Kumbh as the stated deadline, the Uttarakhand government is expected to accelerate infrastructure work at ghats and approach roads over the next several months. The pace of ghat renovation, crowd-management protocols and civic upgrades will be closely watched as the state scales up preparations.

The rollout and implementation of the Uniform Civil Code across all districts of Uttarakhand also remains a significant policy development to monitor, particularly as legal and administrative processes unfold at the district level.