Padayatra

thumb|Thousands taking part in Ashadhi Ekadashi|Ashadhi Vari ([[Warkari) the annual Hindu religious padayatra at Dive Ghat, Maharashtra, 2022]] A padayatra () is a journey undertaken on foot, used both as a political–mass outreach tool and a spiritual pilgrimage (yatra). It is a journey undertaken by politicians or prominent citizens to interact more closely with different parts of society, educate about issues concerning them, and galvanise their supporters. Padayatras or foot pilgrimages are also Hindu religious pilgrimages undertaken towards sacred shrines or pilgrimage sites.

In its political form, a padayatra enables leaders to move beyond conventional rallies and engage directly with communities across towns and villages, symbolising accessibility, humility, and solidarity. In its religious or spiritual aspect, it continues an ancient Indian tradition of travelling on foot through sacred landscapes, transforming walking itself into an act of devotion and self-purification. Beyond its practical purpose, a padayatra often embodies a message of reform, unity, or faith, linking movement with meaning and turning collective footsteps into a symbol of transformation. Notable padayatras in India include Mahatma Gandhi’s 1930 Dandi March against the British salt tax, Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Yatra advocating land reform, and contemporary political marches. On the religious front, annual pilgrimages like Pandharpur Wari, Amarnath Yatra and Kanwar Yatra are prominent.