Nadda Greets Uttarakhand on Its 26th Foundation Day
Synopsis
On Uttarakhand's 26th Foundation Day, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda extended greetings to the state's residents, praised PM Modi and CM Pushkar Dhami's leadership, and prayed to Baba Kedarnath for the state's prosperity and happiness.
Key Takeaways
9 November 2026 marks Uttarakhand's 26th Foundation Day , commemorating its formation as India's 27th state in 2000 .
Union Health Minister J.
Nadda extended greetings on X, calling Uttarakhand 'Devbhoomi' and highlighting its spiritual, cultural, and natural identity.
Nadda credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for the state's progress in heritage, tourism, and development.
The post invoked Baba Kedarnath's blessings for the continued progress and happiness of Uttarakhand's residents.
Uttarakhand was bifurcated from Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000 , anchoring its identity in Himalayan pilgrimage, tourism, and ecology.
Twenty-six years after a new state was carved from the hills of Uttar Pradesh, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda marked Uttarakhand Foundation Day on 9 November 2026 with warm wishes for the people of Devbhoomi — the Land of the Gods — invoking Baba Kedarnath's blessings for the state's continued prosperity.
In his post, Nadda wrote: 'Adhyatmik chetna, samridh sanskritik paramparaon aur adbhut prakritik saundarya se sushobhit Devbhoomi Uttarakhand ke sthapna divas par samast pradeshvasiyon ko hardik shubhkamnayen.' ('Heartfelt greetings to all residents of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand — adorned with spiritual consciousness, rich cultural traditions, and extraordinary natural beauty — on the state's Foundation Day.')
Uttarakhand's journey from bifurcation to 'Devbhoomi'
Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000, becoming India's 27th state. The Himalayan state has since built its identity around its dense concentration of pilgrimage sites — including Kedarnath, Badrinath, Haridwar, and Rishikesh — alongside its forest cover, river systems, and adventure tourism. Nadda's invocation of Baba Kedarnath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, underscores how deeply the state's spiritual geography is woven into its public identity.
Modi and Dhami credited for state's growth arc
Nadda specifically credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's leadership for the state's momentum across cultural heritage, tourism, and development. The framing is familiar in BJP political communication — linking a state's performance to cooperative federalism between the Centre and a BJP-governed state government. Dhami, who leads the Uttarakhand government, has been associated with infrastructure pushes in the state's hilly districts and an emphasis on pilgrimage tourism.
The message closed with a prayer that all residents of Uttarakhand lead lives of happiness and well-being — a sentiment that, on a foundation-day marking, doubles as both a tribute and a political statement about the direction of governance.
Point of View
But their framing reveals political priorities. Nadda's explicit mention of both PM Modi and CM Dhami reinforces the BJP's cooperative-federalism narrative, positioning Centre-state alignment as the engine of Uttarakhand's growth. The invocation of Kedarnath — a site closely associated with PM Modi's own political imagery — adds a layer of symbolic continuity. For a state whose tourism economy is built on pilgrimage and whose demographics are politically sensitive, this kind of messaging is as much governance signalling as it is a ceremonial greeting.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Uttarakhand formed as a separate state?
Uttarakhand was formed on 9 November 2000 after being bifurcated from Uttar Pradesh, becoming India's 27th state .
Why is Uttarakhand called Devbhoomi?
'Devbhoomi' means 'Land of the Gods.' Uttarakhand is called this because it is home to dozens of major Hindu pilgrimage sites, including Kedarnath, Badrinath, Haridwar, and Rishikesh , set in the Himalayas.
What did JP Nadda say on Uttarakhand Foundation Day 2026?
JP Nadda extended greetings to all residents of Uttarakhand, praised PM Modi and CM Pushkar Dhami's leadership, and prayed to Baba Kedarnath for the state's prosperity and the happiness of its people.
Who is the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand?
Pushkar Singh Dhami is the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.
What is Uttarakhand Foundation Day?
Uttarakhand Foundation Day, observed every 9 November , marks the anniversary of the state's creation in 2000 . It is also known as Uttarakhand Sthapna Divas .
