When Swachhata Becomes Shared Faith

This PIB backgrounder explores the evolution of cleanliness and sanitation in India, tracing its roots from ancient Indus Valley, Vedic, and Buddhist traditions to contemporary times through the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Launched on October 2, 2014, SBM encompasses both rural (SBM-G) and urban (SBM-U and SBM-U 2.0) components, shifting focus from mere infrastructure creation to sustainable social behavior change. The article highlights how this behavioral shift is operationalized during massive religious gatherings and pilgrimages such as Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, the Kanwar Yatra in Delhi, and the Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, it notes municipal initiatives like Hyderabad's Project Udvasana, which targets the scientific processing and recycling of sacred and religious waste.