Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of Uttarakhand met a delegation of more than 20 journalists from Chhattisgarh on 3 July 2026, extending a formal invitation to the people of Chhattisgarh to attend the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and expressing confidence that the visiting media representatives would amplify a positive image of the state across the country.

Context

The Chief Minister's Office shared details of the meeting, noting that CM Dhami expressed confidence that the Chhattisgarh journalists, having experienced Uttarakhand ki vikas yatra (Uttarakhand's development journey) at close quarters, would share their experiences widely. He said this would further strengthen the positive image of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand across the nation. Through the journalists, he extended a respectful invitation to all residents of Chhattisgarh to visit Uttarakhand for the forthcoming Kumbh.

The Chief Minister described Kumbh as 'a grand festival of Indian culture, Sanatan tradition, spiritual consciousness, and social harmony.' He expressed confidence that devotees from Chhattisgarh, along with pilgrims from across India, would arrive in large numbers to witness the 'divine and magnificent' event and experience Uttarakhand's spiritual, cultural, and natural splendour.

Policy Backdrop

Uttarakhand has, since 2017-18, systematically prioritised inter-state media visits and cultural events to project the state nationally under the Devbhoomi branding. Cross-state journalist delegations are a recurring instrument used to build positive narratives around development and religious tourism, particularly when states share a political alignment at the leadership level.

The Kumbh Mela, periodically hosted at Haridwar in Uttarakhand, serves as the centrepiece of the state's spiritual tourism calendar. The government has consistently paired Kumbh promotion with messaging on improved infrastructure to attract domestic visitors beyond traditional pilgrimage circuits.

Stakeholders and Impact

The delegation expressed gratitude to CM Dhami for his warm reception and time. The journalists praised the development work under way in Uttarakhand, improvements in infrastructure, transformation of the tourism sector, and the state government's public welfare initiatives. Their reportage, reaching audiences in Chhattisgarh, is expected to boost tourist and pilgrim inflows from the state.

Officials present at the meeting included Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey, Additional Secretary Banshidhar Tiwari, Joint Director K. S. Chauhan, and Joint Director of the Chhattisgarh Information Department Dhananjay Rathore, alongside the more than 20 visiting journalists.

What's Next

The immediate follow-up will rest with the Chhattisgarh media delegation, whose coverage is expected to circulate widely in their home state. Observers will watch for official announcements on Kumbh Mela logistics, dedicated tourist packages for Chhattisgarh pilgrims, or any inter-state agreements that may emerge from this diplomatic outreach. The meeting signals Uttarakhand's intent to deepen cultural and tourism ties with central Indian states ahead of the major pilgrimage event.