The 67-year-old from Jaipur has been participating in Padyatras for 21 years

It is often said that when morale is high, every task becomes easier. This saying holds true for Chhotu Ram, a 67-year-old resident of Nangal Tulsidas village in Jaipur, Rajasthan. A former government employee, Chhotu Ram has dedicated himself to managing sustainable development projects. Padyatras to Vaishno Devi, Amarnath and Ramdevra for 21 years. Despite her slender frame and advanced age, her strength allows her to keep moving forward.

Inspired by An Old Pilgrim

Chhotu Ram, who worked in the Public Works Department till 2018, was inspired by an elderly man. In a conversation with Local18, he recounted that in 2003, he met a group of pilgrims undertaking the Ramdevra PadyatraAt that moment, a 70-year-old worshiper caught his attention.

He added that he could not help thinking how this man would manage to complete such a long journey. Deeply inspired, Chhotu Ram decided to join the pilgrimage thinking, “If he can do it, so can I.”

On the same day, he left for Hasanpura, the starting point of the Ramdevra Padayatra in Jaipur, and undertook his first journey alongside his brother-in-law, Ghasi Ram.

Chhotu Ram has been undertaking these pilgrimages continuously. Since 2003, he has performed 26 padayatras to Ramdevra, four to Vaishno Devi and one to Amarnath. Most recently, he undertook a pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi and Amarnath on 9 June 2024. He reached Vaishno Devi on 4 July and Amarnath on 14 July.

Despite being exhausted from these long journeys, he left for the Ramdevra pilgrimage from Nangal Tulsidas on 23 August and arrived on 2 September.