1 week ago
Kedarnath Pilgrims Asked to Carry One Kilogram Waste Back
Many people visit Kedarnath by walking through the Himalayas.
Large crowds can leave behind bottles, food wrappers, raincoats and other rubbish.
Pradeep Sangwan wants pilgrims to help clean the route during their return trip.
His campaign asks them to carry about one kilogram of waste back with them.
If 100,000 people do this, they could remove 100 tonnes of rubbish.
The campaign records participation online so its results can be measured.
Sangwan says clean-up drives help, but preventing and properly managing waste is also important.
He hopes pilgrims will become partners in protecting the mountains.
Environmental activist Pradeep Sangwan is urging Kedarnath pilgrims to bring waste back on their return journeys through the #CarryMeBack campaign.
The campaign’s stated goal is for 100,000 pilgrims to carry one kilogram each, removing 100 tonnes of waste from the mountains.
Organizers say hundreds of travelers removed more than 1,000 kilograms of waste from the Kedarnath route within 10 days of the campaign gaining momentum.
Healing Himalayas reports that its Kedarnath material recovery facility recently handled 25 tonnes of segregated and baled waste, including plastic, bottles, cardboard and raincoats.
Sangwan says carrying waste back is only part of the solution, alongside waste reduction, segregation, infrastructure, public participation and responsible processing.
- Who
- Environmental activist Pradeep Sangwan, Healing Himalayas and pilgrims traveling to Kedarnath.
- What
- The #CarryMeBack campaign asks pilgrims to carry waste back from the Kedarnath route.
- Where
- The Kedarnath pilgrimage route in the Indian Himalayas.
- When
- During the current Kedarnath pilgrimage season; a related social-media post was dated June 7, 2026.
- Why
- To reduce the accumulation of waste caused by mass pilgrimage and tourism in an ecologically sensitive mountain region.
Key facts
- Campaign
- #CarryMeBack
- Organizer
- Healing Himalayas, founded by Pradeep Sangwan in 2016
- Target
- 100,000 pilgrims carrying one kilogram each
- Potential removal
- 100 tonnes of waste
- Early result
- More than 1,000 kilograms reportedly removed within 10 days
- Kedarnath facility
- 25 tonnes of segregated and baled material recently handled
- Campaign contribution
- More than 5.5 tonnes reportedly came through Carry Me Back
Quotes
Pradeep Sangwan
Founder of the Healing Himalayas non‑profit and environmental activist
“"Forty days of Kedarnath Yatra. Ten lakh registered pilgrims reached, breaking all previous records. Our Carry Me Back Yatra is now picking up. One lakh yatri carrying one kg equals 100 tons removed. That's our aim."”
thebetterindia.com
“"Yes — 250 grams to 5 kg should be carried back by yatris and pilgrims. That's the campaign."”
thebetterindia.com
Sources
Related news
5 Crore Pilgrims Leave 7,000 Tonnes Trash: Haridwar Mega Cleanup
Eight youths drag dustbin 200km for cleaner Darjeeling hills
PM Modi Links Cleanliness, Public Participation With Service and Faith
70-Year-Old Waste Collector Turns Tiranga Yatra Into Swachhata Mission
Record 4.43 crore devotees join Kanwar Yatra at Haridwar
Karnataka Tourism plans 'Clean and Green Hampi' conservation campaign
