The primary component of the campaign is a
yatra or pilgrimage. The yatra ran for 148 days from December 11, 2016, to May 15, 2017, and began and ended at
Amarkantak, the origin of the Narmada river in
Anuppur district, after traveling around Madhya Pradesh. Smaller "sub-yatras" covered areas not in the main route. The total length of the yatra was , with being along the Narmada itself. The campaign covered 962 villages in 16 districts. Members of the public were encouraged to participate in the yatra. Cultural and religious programs were organized at various points throughout the yatra. and the
Dalai Lama, actors
Vivek Oberoi,
Anupam Kher,
Govinda and
Suzanne Bernert, and classical musicians
Sonal Mansingh and
Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. The campaign also included a group of 50 public representatives and other volunteers who accompanied the yatra to raise awareness about ecologically friendly farming practices, pollution, water conservation, and forest conservation. and the promotion of fruit tree cultivation among farmers. Farmers would be financially supported for three years while the trees mature and bear fruit. Water treatment plants for sewage treatment at cities along the river and the establishment of "mukti dhams" or crematoriums to prevent the release of corpses into the river are also planned. == Impact ==