- Dr. Pradeep Khanal received the NPCECC Sir M. Visvesvaraya World Ozone International Envi Fest Award–2026 in Bengaluru for his spiritual and environmental contributions.
- The award honors Khanal’s 450-site pilgrimage across six countries, highlighting his commitment to interfaith engagement and promoting shared cultural heritage across South Asia.
- Organized by NPCECC and VTU, the event focused on environmental conservation, ozone layer protection, and the intersection of spiritual consciousness with ecological responsibility.
- Khanal was specifically recognized for enhancing Nepal-India cultural relations through religious tourism, spiritual diplomacy, and fostering international friendship across national boundaries.
Bengaluru, India, 16 September 2026: Dr. Pradeep Khanal, a Nepali spiritual ambassador, social activist and international cultural personality, was honoured with the NPCECC Sir M. Visvesvaraya World Ozone International Envi Fest Award–2026 at a special programme held at the campus of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
The award programme was organised by the National Pollution Control and Environment Conservation Committee (NPCECC) in collaboration with VTU as part of programmes marking World Ozone Day and Ayur Vatika–2026. The event brought together academicians, environmentalists, philanthropists, senior officials, social workers and other distinguished personalities from India and abroad.
According to the invitation issued to Dr. Khanal on 16 July 2026, under reference NPCECC/Awd-let/WOD-INTL-001/2026-27, he was invited in his capacity as World Spiritual Ambassador, Nepal, to receive the award during the valedictory function of World Ozone Day and Ayur Vatika–2026.
Lamp Lighting Marks Beginning of Programme
The first session of the programme began with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp. Dr. Khanal participated in the inauguration ceremony.
The lamp-lighting ceremony marked the beginning of a programme focused on environmental awareness, conservation and international cooperation.
During the session, speakers highlighted the importance of the ozone layer to life on Earth and discussed the responsibilities of governments, institutions, scientists, environmentalists and citizens in protecting the atmosphere. The programme also emphasised the need to strengthen public awareness of pollution control, environmental conservation and sustainable development.
The event was also part of NPCECC’s broader environmental awareness activities. According to the invitation, the organisation has completed 25 years of publishing its environmental magazine and has worked to promote awareness of environmental pollution and conservation among policymakers, academics, environmentalists, educational institutions and the general public.
Pradeep Khanal Receives Special Recognition
The second session featured the presentation of awards to distinguished personalities from India and other countries. Dr. Khanal was seated among the special award recipients before receiving the award trophy from the dignitaries.
Prior to the presentation, his achievements and international pilgrimage journey were introduced to the audience. His extensive pilgrimage across different countries and religious traditions was highlighted as an example of intercultural and interfaith engagement.
According to the profile presented at the programme, Khanal undertook a pilgrimage covering 450 sacred and pilgrimage sites over approximately one year across six countries and regions: Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Tibet (China).
His journey included sites associated with Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism, as well as numerous places of religious, historical and cultural significance.
The profile presented at the event listed four Adi Shakti Peethas, 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, 52 Shakti Peethas, 108 Siddha Peethas, Char Dham, Sapta Puri, the 12 Jyotirlingas and 23 sacred rivers, lakes, sarovars and kundas. It also listed 13 Sikh pilgrimage sites, 13 Buddhist pilgrimage sites and seven Jain pilgrimage sites, in addition to other destinations.
These figures are based on the profile presented at the programme and should be understood as part of the organisers’ presentation of Khanal’s pilgrimage record.
A Journey Across Civilisations and Spiritual Traditions
Khanal’s pilgrimage has been presented as more than a conventional religious journey. It brought together sacred traditions, cultures and communities across national boundaries.
His route covered spiritual centres from the Himalayas to southern India and across parts of South Asia and Tibet. The journey included important Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain pilgrimage destinations and highlighted historical and cultural connections among communities across the region.
At the Bengaluru programme, speakers described Khanal’s extensive pilgrimage as a distinctive achievement. His journey was also associated with the traditions of spiritual travellers such as Jagatguru Adi Shankaracharya and Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
According to the profile presented at the event, Khanal has travelled to more than 30 countries and has knowledge of around 10 languages. These claims should be attributed to his profile unless independently documented.
Contribution to Nepal–India Cultural Relations
Dr. Khanal has also been involved in activities aimed at promoting people-to-people and cultural relations between Nepal and India.
His activities have included facilitating visits and interactions involving political, spiritual and religious personalities and promoting visits to important religious and cultural sites in Nepal and India.
Through such initiatives, he has sought to promote religious tourism, cultural exchange and people-to-people relations between the two neighbouring countries.
His work has increasingly connected pilgrimage with cultural exchange and international friendship, using religious and heritage sites as platforms for communication and mutual understanding.
International Participation in Bengalur
The award programme recognised personalities from different countries and Indian states. International participants mentioned in connection with the programme included Brahmarishi Surrender Tiwari from the Netherlands, Kalyan Mahat from Bhutan and Sameera from Sri Lanka, along with distinguished personalities and senior representatives from different parts of India.
Vice-chancellors, senior officials, academicians, environmentalists and social personalities also received recognition during the event.
The programme was chaired by Dr. Jagannath Chinnaswami, while Latha Rammarappa coordinated the event.
Recognition of a Distinctive International Journey
Upon receiving the NPCECC Sir M. Visvesvaraya World Ozone International Envi Fest Award–2026, Dr. Khanal said the recognition was meaningful because it brought together two areas he considers important: environmental responsibility and spiritual consciousness.
His pilgrimage took him to sacred mountains, rivers, lakes, forests and other natural landscapes across several countries. The experience, he said, reinforced the connection between spirituality, nature and the responsibility of human beings to protect the environment.
The Bengaluru event also highlighted the relationship between spiritual heritage, cultural understanding, environmental awareness and international friendship.
Dr. Khanal’s 450-site pilgrimage across six countries has been presented as an important part of his efforts to explore and promote the shared spiritual and cultural heritage of South Asia. His recognition in Bengaluru added an international dimension to that journey, bringing his work before an audience that included environmentalists, academics, administrators and cultural and spiritual figures.
The NPCECC Sir M. Visvesvaraya World Ozone International Envi Fest Award–2026 was presented to Dr. Khanal in recognition of his contribution and achievements, particularly his international pilgrimage, cultural engagement and activities associated with Nepal–India relations.
The event at VTU in Bengaluru concluded with an emphasis on the potential for environmental protection, cultural heritage and spiritual values to contribute to greater awareness and cooperation across societies and national boundaries.
