Archive · 20 Aug 2026
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.
- When
- During the current Kedarnath pilgrimage season; a related social-media post was dated June 7, 2026.
- Where
- The Kedarnath pilgrimage route in the Indian Himalayas.
- Why
- To reduce the accumulation of waste caused by mass pilgrimage and tourism in an ecologically sensitive mountain region.
- 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