Padayatra is a journey undertaken by a politician(s) and/or prominent citizens to interact more closely with different parts of society, educate them about issues concerning them and to galvanize his or her supporters. Pada Yatra

Yatra

' , in Hinduism and other Indian religions, generally means pilgrimage to holy places such as confluences of sacred rivers, places associated with Hindu epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, and other sacred pilgrimage sites. Tīrtha-yātrā refers to a pilgrimage to a holy site, and is...

s or 'Foot pilgrimage' are also Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 religious pilgrimages undertaken towards scared shrines or pilgrimage sites.

History

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...

 originated the padayatra with his famous Salt march to Dandi

Dandi

Dandi may refer to:places*Dandi, Gujarat, a village, scene of Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha*Dandi, Iran, a city in Zanjan Province*Dandi, Nigeria, a Local Government Area in Kebbi Stateother uses* Dandi Entertainment, a company...

 in 1930. In the winter of 1933-34, Gandhi went on a countrywide padayatra to against untouchability. Later Gandhian Vinoba Bhave

Vinoba Bhave

Vinoba Bhave , born Vinayak Narahari Bhave often called Acharya , was an Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights. He is best known for the Bhoodan Andolan...

 also started a padyatra, which was part of his Bhoodan movement

Bhoodan movement

The Bhoodan Movement or Land Gift Movement was a voluntary land reform movement in India started by Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 1951 started at Pochampally village now known as Bhoodhan Pochampally.-Method:...

 in 1951. Prominent padayatras have been undertaken by Chandra Shekhar Singh and Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy

Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy

Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy , popularly known as YSR, was a two-time Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He is seen as the most popular chief minister of Andhra pradesh. His popularity is often attributed to various welfare schemes and development programs he championed for the...

 who did a three month long padyathra covering 1475 KM metting people across state Andhra Pradesh and Rajagopal, PV who, in Janadesh 2007

Janadesh 2007

Janadesh is the name of a national campaign on land rights in India launched by the movement Ekta Parishad. The word "Janadesh" means "The Verdict of the People" in Hindi...

 led 25,000 landless peasants on 28 day march from Gwalior to Delhi. Starting 1986, Magsaysay Award winner, Rajendra Singh

Rajendra Singh

Rajendra Singh is a well known water conservationist from Alwar district, Rajasthan in India. Also known as "waterman of India", he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for community leadership in 2001 for his pioneering work in community-based efforts in water harvesting and water management. He runs...

 started padayatras through villages of Rajasthan

Rajasthan

Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...

, promoting construction and revival of johad

Johad

A johad is a rainwater storage tank principally used in the state of Rajasthan, India, that collects and store water throughout the year, to be used for the drinking purpose by humans and cattle. In many parts of the state the annual rainfall is very low and the water can be unpleasant to drink...

s and check dams.