Trailblazing Boxer Completes Record-Breaking Kanwar Yatra

Kritika, a 21-year-old state-level boxer from Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, becomes the first woman to finish the 600 km Kanwar Yatra. Carrying Ganga water from Gaumukh, she concludes her journey at Omkareshwar temple. Inspired by her father's past journeys, Kritika aims to test her grit.

Kritika, a 21-year-old state-level boxer from Himachal Pradesh, has achieved a notable feat by becoming the first woman in the region to complete the arduous 600-kilometer Kanwar Yatra on foot. This religious journey involved carrying Ganga water from Gaumukh to her hometown in Mandi district.

After completing the Haridwar to Sundernagar yatra in 2024, Kritika chose to challenge herself further this year by starting at Gaumukh, located in the treacherous high-altitude terrains of Uttarakhand. Upon returning to her village, she performed the 'jalabhishek' at the Omkareshwar temple, using the Ganga water she carried throughout her journey.

Surrounded by the support of her family and the entire village, Kritika credited her father, Rajendra Kumar, as a key motivator for her expedition. In addition to her spirituality, she is a student at MLSM College, Sundernagar, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Physical Education and continues to excel in state-level boxing.

(With inputs from agencies.)