On the death anniversary of one of India's most beloved Hindu mystics, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami bowed in reverence to Baba Neem Karoli Ji Maharaj on Friday, September 25, 2026, calling the saint's life a 'divine example of complete dedication to devotion, service, compassion and the welfare of humanity.'

Dhami wrote in Hindi, 'Kotishaḥ naman' — a salutation of countless bows — honouring the saint's mahaprayana divas, the day of his passing. He described Baba Neem Karoli as a 'great saint, spiritual luminary, and an unparalleled devotee of Lord Hanuman,' whose simplicity and love had inspired 'countless people across India and abroad to walk the path of service, harmony, and spirituality.'

Who was Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj?

Baba Neem Karoli Ji Maharaj was a revered Hindu mystic who passed away in 1973. A fierce devotee of Lord Hanuman, he founded ashrams across India and drew a following that spanned continents — his teachings of unconditional love, selfless service, and bhakti reaching far beyond the subcontinent. His spiritual imprint remains deeply felt in the hills of Uttarakhand, where several of his ashrams continue to draw pilgrims and seekers year-round.

His legacy is particularly resonant in a state like Uttarakhand — a land defined by its Himalayan pilgrimage trails and deep-rooted devotional culture. For the state's BJP leadership, honouring saints tied to Hanuman worship and the broader spiritual fabric of the region is both a cultural acknowledgement and a reflection of the state's identity as a devabhumi — the 'land of the gods.'

Dhami, BJP, and the tradition of saintly tributes

Chief ministers across India, and BJP leaders in particular, regularly mark the death anniversaries of revered saints to affirm their connection with India's spiritual heritage. For Dhami, whose government has consistently positioned Uttarakhand as a centre of spiritual tourism and Hindu pilgrimage, such tributes carry a layered significance — part personal devotion, part cultural stewardship.

Baba Neem Karoli's ashrams — from Kainchi Dham in the Kumaon hills to centres further afield — remain active sites of congregation, drawing not just local devotees but visitors from around the world. The anniversary each year renews attention on these spaces as living monuments to the saint's philosophy of love and seva.

Devotion this enduring doesn't ask for a ceremony. It simply keeps showing up, year after year, across generations and geographies — and that, more than any official programme, is the measure of Baba Neem Karoli Ji's reach.