HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck Graces Viksit Bharat Run 2026 in Thimphu
His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck graced the Viksit Bharat Run 2026, hosted by the Embassy of India in Thimphu on 2 October 2026. His Royal Highness was received by the Ambassador of India to Bhutan, His Excellency Mr Sandeep Arya, and the two jointly flagged off the run from India House, marking a warm and well-attended morning at the heart of one of Bhutan and India’s most enduring diplomatic institutions.
Speaking at the event, His Royal Highness said: “India House has long stood as a home for the friendship between our two nations, and it felt only right to begin this run from here. Sport has always been one of the simplest, truest ways to bring people together.”
Held as part of Seva Pakhwada 2026, the Viksit Bharat Run promotes fitness, unity, community spirit and active participation. This year’s initiative carried the message of “Run to Serve the Nation,” reflecting the spirit of service and collective responsibility associated with Seva Pakhwada.
The run also forms part of the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, India’s initiative to mark a developed nation by the hundredth anniversary of its independence. Through initiatives that bring communities together around fitness and public participation, the run encourages individuals to contribute to a healthier, more active and engaged society.
The event saw participation from members of the Indian community, Bhutanese participants, students, and officials from the Bhutan Olympic Committee, along with athletes and coaches from various national sports federations, who joined the run in a show of the sporting community’s support for physical activity, healthy lifestyles and community participation.
Held on Gandhi Jayanti, the event reflects the enduring partnership between the Bhutan Olympic Committee and the Embassy of India in Thimphu, and the warmth of India House’s continued role in strengthening the longstanding friendship and people-to-people ties between Bhutan and India through sport.
