Chhatarpur, October 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A campaign against alcohol and drug abuse is gaining momentum among young people in Madhya Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region following the five-day Sanatan Hindu Ekta Rath Yatra 3.0 led by Bageshwar Dham Peethadhishwar Dhirendra Krishna Shastri.
The procession, which began at Bageshwar Dham in Chhatarpur district on October 11, covered nearly 500 kilometres across five Bundelkhand districts — Chhatarpur, Panna, Damoh, Sagar and Tikamgarh — before concluding on October 15.
Thousands of devotees, including a substantial number of young people, participated in the yatra and the associated religious discourses, or kathas. At major stops, Shastri administered pledges urging participants to give up alcohol and other intoxicants, reject caste-based divisions and promote social harmony.
Addressing substance abuse as a serious concern in Bundelkhand, the 29-year-old spiritual leader said the campaign against addiction was a central component of the procession.
“Bundelkhand is struggling with addiction. Special measures were taken and people took pledges. We are confident this journey will bring significant change,” he said.
During the campaign, Shastri also met families in areas such as Banda who had lost relatives to spurious liquor. He appealed for collective efforts to prevent further tragedies linked to illicit and adulterated alcohol.
Emphasising the role of young people in social change, he said, “When the youth awaken, India will awaken; the dream of an addiction-free India will become a reality.”
Shastri urged the younger generation to embrace discipline, traditional values and a purposeful lifestyle rooted in Sanatan principles. He maintained that substance abuse harms individuals as well as the nation’s broader social fabric.
He also appealed to the Madhya Pradesh government to consider a complete ban on liquor shops across the state, citing Bihar and Gujarat as examples of states with prohibition policies.
Announcing his plans for the next religious procession, Shastri said it would focus exclusively on de-addiction and raising awareness about substance abuse.
The organisers and local supporters have described the participation of young devotees and their public pledges to avoid alcohol and drugs as encouraging signs for the campaign. The initiative seeks to combine religious outreach with a broader social message promoting healthier lifestyles and community responsibility.
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