Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav participated via video conferencing from Bhopal Niwas on Sunday, June 7, 2026, in the concluding ceremony of a seven-day Shrimad Bhagwat Katha held at Tankaria Panth village in Ujjain district, and announced plans to develop two grand Shri Krishna Tirth pilgrimage complexes in the state.

Context

The katha (religious discourse) was conducted by revered storyteller Shri Rakesh Sharma 'Shastri' over seven days at Tankaria Panth in Ujjain district. Chief Minister Yadav joined the closing ceremony remotely, sharing his thoughts with devotees and dignitaries assembled at the venue. The event drew a large gathering of shraddhalujan (devotees) and prominent guests.

In his address, Dr. Yadav announced that a grand Shri Krishna Tirth will be developed at Narayana village in Ujjain district and at the Amka-Jhamka Mataji complex in Dhar district. The Chief Minister stated, in his post, that he 'shared thoughts' at the event and conveyed the government's intent to build these two new pilgrimage destinations.

Policy Backdrop

The announcement fits squarely within Madhya Pradesh's ongoing push to develop religious tourism infrastructure. The state completed the high-profile Mahakaleshwar Temple Corridor redevelopment in Ujjain by 2022, which significantly elevated footfall at one of Hinduism's twelve Jyotirlingas. Successive BJP administrations have linked such projects to expanding pilgrimage circuits that cover both Shaivite and Vaishnava heritage sites across the state.

Ujjain is already among India's foremost pilgrimage cities, hosting the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and serving as a hub for major religious gatherings. Dhar district in western Madhya Pradesh contains multiple religious sites, including the Amka-Jhamka Mataji complex earmarked for the second Tirth. The Shri Krishna Tirth projects would add a distinct Vaishnava dimension to the state's pilgrimage map.

Stakeholders and Impact

Residents and devotees in both Ujjain and Dhar districts stand to benefit from enhanced pilgrimage infrastructure, including improved amenities and greater religious tourism activity. Local economies around established pilgrimage corridors in Madhya Pradesh have historically seen increased trade, hospitality, and employment following state-backed development projects.

The use of video conferencing by the Chief Minister to connect with a village-level religious event underscores the state government's approach of maintaining visible engagement with grassroots cultural and spiritual gatherings across Madhya Pradesh's districts, even when physical attendance is not possible.

What's Next

Ground-breaking timelines, funding allocations, and land details for the two Shri Krishna Tirth sites are yet to be formally announced. Observers will watch for follow-up notifications from the state government on project schedules and any broader tourism-circuit linkages connecting Ujjain, Dhar, and existing pilgrimage destinations in Madhya Pradesh. If realised, the projects could further consolidate the state's position as a leading religious tourism destination in central India.