Twenty-six years after the hill districts of Uttar Pradesh won their long-fought battle for a separate state, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra marked Uttarakhand Foundation Day on 9 November 2026 with warm wishes for the state's people, calling its culture a source of national pride.

In her post, Priyanka wrote: 'Devbhoomi Uttarakhand ke sthapana diwas par sabhi pradeshwasiyon ko hardik shubhkamnayen' — 'Heartfelt greetings to all residents of Uttarakhand on its Foundation Day.' She described the state as 'rich in natural beauty and resources' and expressed hope for 'happiness, prosperity and progress' for the people of the region.

From Uttar Pradesh to Devbhoomi: the story behind 9 November

Uttarakhand came into existence on 9 November 2000 under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000, carved out of Uttar Pradesh after decades of agitation by hill communities demanding a state that reflected their distinct geography, culture, and administrative needs. The region's Himalayan terrain — home to pilgrimage centres at Kedarnath, Badrinath, Haridwar, and Rishikesh — had long given it the identity of Devbhoomi, 'Land of the Gods.' The name stuck, and so did the aspiration.

National leaders across the political spectrum routinely issue greetings on state foundation days, recognising the symbolic weight of regional identity in a country where statehood anniversaries carry genuine emotional resonance for residents. Uttarakhand's Foundation Day is no different — it marks not just an administrative milestone but a vindication of a cultural and geographic argument made over generations.

A state defined by its landscape and spiritual heritage

Uttarakhand is among India's most ecologically and culturally distinct states. Its Himalayan forests, rivers — including the headwaters of the Ganga and Yamuna — and high-altitude biodiversity make it a critical environmental zone. At the same time, its pilgrimage economy draws millions of visitors annually, anchoring livelihoods across the hill districts that once felt overlooked within undivided Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, whose Congress party has deep historical ties to Uttarakhand's formation-era politics, represents Wayanad, Kerala in the Lok Sabha and also serves as the party's general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh — a role that keeps her closely connected to the political lineage that spans both the parent state and the one born from it.

As Uttarakhand marks another year of its journey, the wishes from New Delhi carry a simple, durable message: the mountains matter, and the people who call them home are not forgotten.