Padayatra
{{Short description|Journey undertaken by politicians}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
A padayatra ({{langx|sa|पदयात्रा|padayātrā|journey by foot|translit-std=ISO}}) is a journey undertaken by politicians or prominent citizens to interact more closely with different parts of society, educate about issues concerning them, and galvanize his or her supporters. Padayatras or foot pilgrimages are also Hindu religious pilgrimages undertaken towards sacred shrines or pilgrimage sites.[http://www.padayatra.com/history.php History of Padyatra] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718154933/http://www.padayatra.com/history.php |date=2012-07-18 }}
Social causes
Image:Marche sel.jpg, 1930]]
Mahatma Gandhi originated the padayatra with his famous Salt March to Dandi in 1930. In the winter of 1933–34, Gandhi went on a countrywide padayatra against untouchability.{{cite news |title=Where Gandhi Meets Ambedkar|author=Ramachandra Guha|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-11-08/edit-page/27860607_1_untouchability-padayatra-hindu |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711203119/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-11-08/edit-page/27860607_1_untouchability-padayatra-hindu |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |work=The Times of India|date=Nov 8, 2005 }} Later, Gandhian Vinoba Bhave also started a padayatra, which was part of his Bhoodan movement in 1951. Starting from the Telangana region, Bhave concluded his padayatra at Bodh Gaya.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=15mSMA8LXhoC&pg=PA135 | title=Reflections From Shillong: Speeches Of M.M. Jacob | publisher=Daya Books | author=David R. Syiemlieh | year=2005 | pages=135 | isbn=8189233297 |access-date=9 May 2014}} On 6 January 1983, Chandra Shekhar started his padayatra from Kanyakumari and continued his {{convert|4260|km}} journey to Raj Ghat in Delhi till 25 June 1983 to understand the problems of the masses.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lSCyVxEg2t4C&pg=PA287 | title=Profiles of Indian Prime Ministers | publisher=Mittal Publications | author=Manisha | year=2010 | pages=xxi | isbn=978-8170999768 |access-date=9 May 2014}}
Puthan Veetil Rajagopal, in Janadesh 2007, led 25,000 landless peasants on a 28-day march from Gwalior to Delhi.{{Cite web|author=Laxmi Prasanna|date=Jul 28, 2017|title=Activist PV Rajagopal to constitute taskforce in Kerala to ensure land for landless {{!}} Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/activist-pv-rajagopal-to-constitute-taskforce-in-kerala-to-ensure-land-for-landless/articleshow/59812196.cms|access-date=2021-05-28|website=The Times of India|language=en}} In 1986, Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh started padayatras through villages of Rajasthan, promoting construction and revival of johads and check dams.{{cite web |title=The water man of Rajasthan |url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1817/18170810.htm |date=Aug 18–31, 2001 |publisher=Frontline, Volume 18 - Issue 17 }}
Political purpose
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy did a 66-day-long padayatra covering {{cvt|1500|km}}, meeting people across 11 districts of Andhra Pradesh.{{Cite web |title=తెలుగు నేలపై చెరగని జ్ఞాపకం {{!}} YS Rajasekhara Reddy 75th Birth Anniversary On July 8th {{!}} Sakshi |url=https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/andhra-pradesh/ys-rajasekhara-reddy-75th-birth-anniversary-july-8th-2108962 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=www.sakshi.com |language=te}} He led his party to victory in the following general elections held in 2004 to become the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, which included Telangana also.{{cite web |last1=Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan |first1=Andhra Pradesh |title=Farmers benefited by schemes of YSR – AP Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan |url=https://www.rajbhavan.ap.gov.in/pdfs/pn20210708.pdf |website=Raj Bhavan, Andhra Pradesh }}{{cite web |last1=YSR Congress Party |first1=YSR Congress Party |title=17 Years For YSR Padayatra |url=https://www.ysrcongress.com/special-news/17-years-ysr-padayatra-72090 |website=YSR Congress Party |date=9 April 2020 }}{{cite web |last1=The Times of India |first1=The Times of India |title=YSR's padayatra to begin on April 9 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ysrs-padayatra-to-begin-on-april-9/articleshow/42102373.cms |work=The Times of India|date=2 April 2003 }}{{cite web |last1=The Hindu |first1=The Hindu |title=Vijayamma set to begin new innings |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/vijayamma-set-to-begin-new-innings/article4594671.ece |work=The Hindu|date=8 April 2013 }}{{cite web |last1=India Today |first1=India Today |title=Defiant Jagan 'pained' by aide's suspension |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/south/story/defiant-jagan-pained-by-aides-suspension-78918-2010-07-18 |website=India Today |date=19 July 2010 }}{{cite web |last1=Hindustan Times |first1=Hindustan Times |title=YSRTP chief Sharmila announces padayatra from October 20 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ysrtpchief-sharmila-announces-padayatra-from-october-20-101632250454746.html |website=Hindustan Times |date=22 September 2021 }}{{cite web |last1=The New Indian Express |first1=The New Indian Express |title=64-day Praja Prasthanam made him a mass leader |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2009/sep/04/64-day-praja-prasthanam-made-him-a-mass-leader-83258.html |website=The New Indian Express |date=16 May 2012 }}{{cite web |last1=News18 |first1=News18 |title=Ahead of Andhra Polls, TDP Leader Nara Lokesh Launches 4,000 Km Padayatra |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/ahead-of-andhra-polls-chandrababu-naidus-son-nara-lokesh-launches-4000-km-tdp-padayatra-6932383.html |website=News18 }}{{cite web |last1=The Print |first1=The Print |title=Why power of padayatra is fading in Telugu politics from YSR's days of 'charm & showmanship' |url=https://theprint.in/politics/why-power-of-padayatra-is-fading-in-telugu-politics-from-ysrs-days-of-charm-showmanship/700304/ |website=The Print |date=22 July 2021 }}{{cite web |last1=Sakshi Post |first1=Sakshi Post |title=YSR Padayatra: 'Rajanna' Made His Big, Monumental First Step This Day 17 Years Ago! |url=https://www.sakshipost.com/editors-picks/2020/04/09/17-years-of-dr-ysrs-historic-padayatra |website=Sakshi Post |date=9 April 2020 }}
The YSRCP chief Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy launched his Padayatra named ‘Praja Sankalpa Yatra’ at RK Valley in his native Kadapa district after paying homage at the grave of his father. YSR Congress party coined a slogan “Raavali Jagan, Kaavali Jagan” (Jagan should come. We want Jagan) for the foot march that took to him across 125 Assembly segments in 13 districts of the state in 430 days. This Yatra was started on November 6, 2017 and ended on January 9, 2019.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}
The Indian National Congress, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, started Bharat Jodo Yatra, a padyatra on September 7, 2022 in Kanniyakumari at the tip of the Indian peninsula. This foot march will cover about 3,570 km in around five months. It will move across 12 States and two Union Territories, and shall end in Kashmir.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/discovery-of-congress-the-hindu-editorial-on-bharat-jodo-yatra/article65866600.ece|title=Discovery of Congress: On Bharat Jodo Yatra|newspaper=The Hindu |date=8 September 2022 }}
Religious causes
The warkaris from the Maharashtra state of western India practice a regular walk to religious places like Dehu, Alandi and Pandharpur. Ashadhi Ekadashi, Kartiki Ekadashi, Maghi Ekadashi and Chaitra Ekadashi are some of the popular days when pilgrims reach Pandharpur to worship Vithoba.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2KSW8QkLusC&q=varkari+vari&pg=PT211 | title=Sufism and Inter-Religious Understanding | publisher=Pinnacle Technology | author=Asghar Ali Engineer | author-link=Asghar Ali Engineer | year=2008 | isbn=978-1618201683 |access-date=9 May 2014}} The kanwariyas practice a regular walk to religious places like Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Kedarnath Temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Vaidyanath Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Amarnath Temple etc. Maha Shivaratri and Kanwar Yatra are some of the popular days when pilgrims reach the temples to worship Shiva.
See also
References
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{{Mohandas K. Gandhi|state=expanded}}
{{Civil rights movement}}