Women-led SHG prepares Kedarnath Mahaprasadam laddus under Uttarakhand Millet Mission
Rudraprayag, June 15
A women-led Self-Help Group in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district is playing a key role in preparing the Mahaprasadam laddus offered at the revered Kedarnath temple, providing livelihood opportunities to local women while promoting millet cultivation under the state government's Millet Mission.
The SHG, comprising more than 50 women, is involved in making the laddus from amaranth, a traditional coarse grain that is being cultivated as part of a special campaign launched by the Agriculture Department under the Millet Mission.
Chief Agriculture Officer Lokendra Bisht said the Millet Mission is one of the flagship schemes of the Uttarakhand government aimed at boosting millet production and enhancing farmers' incomes.
"Millet Mission is a flagship scheme of our state government. The objective is to increase millet production and improve the income of farmers," Bisht said.
The initiative has also created employment opportunities for women in the region. Sobti Devi, one of the women engaged in preparing the laddus, said the work has helped generate income for members of the Self-Help Group.
"This provides employment to all of us women," she said.
Local farmers cultivating amaranth said they have received continuous support from the government under the scheme. A millet farmer noted that the administration has been assisting cultivators by providing necessary facilities, including storage infrastructure.
"The government had been providing us with whatever we needed. Till last year, they had been providing us with a storage facility," the farmer said.
The initiative reflects the state's efforts to promote traditional millet crops while linking them to religious tourism and local livelihoods. By sourcing amaranth from local farmers and involving women-led groups in the preparation process, the programme is helping strengthen rural incomes and encourage sustainable agriculture in the Himalayan region.
As enthusiasm among pilgrims for the Char Dham Yatra continues to rise, with a large number of devotees arriving at Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham for darshan, resulting in long queues at both shrines. The world-famous Badrinath and Kedarnath pilgrimage in Uttarakhand is witnessing a steady increase in footfall, with thousands of devotees reaching the holy shrines every day and patiently waiting for their turn to offer prayers.
According to the latest pilgrimage figures, 1,050,670 devotees have visited Kedarnath Dham and offered prayers to Baba Kedar so far. Similarly, 832,903 pilgrims have paid obeisance to Lord Badri Vishal at Badrinath Dham. Meanwhile, the (BKTC) has urged pilgrims to make necessary preparations before undertaking the journey, especially in view of the approaching monsoon season.
The committee has advised devotees to complete their registration in advance, carry adequate warm clothing, arrange accommodation beforehand, and check weather conditions before beginning their pilgrimage.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see women being given livelihood opportunities in the hills. But I wonder how sustainable this is long-term. Is the government just giving storage facilities for now, or is there a proper market linkage plan beyond temple prasadam? Would love to see more details on the economic model for these SHGs.
This is exactly what 'Make in India' and 'Vocal for Local' should look like! 🌿 From farm to temple - the value chain is beautiful. And 10 lakh devotees visiting Kedarnath already... that's a massive platform for these women entrepreneurs. Proud of Uttarakhand government for this thoughtful integration of agriculture, tourism and women's empowerment!
As someone who visited Kedarnath last year, the prasadam is a cherished part of the experience. Knowing it's made by local women with millets adds even more meaning. This is how development should work - respecting traditions while creating modern economic opportunities. Kudos to everyone involved!
Finally, a scheme that actually reaches the ground! The Char Dham Yatra brings lakhs of pilgrims, and linking that with local produce is smart economics. The millet cultivation will also help restore soil health in the hills. Just hope the wages for these women are fair and they get proper recognition for their work.
Love this! Millets are superfoods and amaranth is so nutritious. Combining faith, women's empowerment, and sustainable agriculture is genius. The only concern is the monsoon approach - hope the pilgrims follow BKTC's advice for safety. Otherwise, this is a beautiful model of inclusive growth in the
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