The Char Dham Yatra holds profound significance for Hindus, drawing devout pilgrims and enthusiasts alike in anticipation of the spiritual journey. The air is thick with excitement as devotees prepare to embark on this sacred pilgrimage, which encompasses the revered sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. After being closed for the winter season, the revered Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri temples in Uttarakhand opened for devotees on Friday. Nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas, these temples annually shut their doors as snow blankets the region, only to reopen with the arrival of summer.
Here's reopening schedule
Officials from the temple committee have announced the reopening schedule: Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples opened at 7 am, while the Gangotri temple will follow suit at 12:20 pm. Badrinath, which is also a part of Uttarakhand's 'chardham yatra' will be opened at 6 am on May 12.
Kedarnath is being decorated with 20 quintals of flower, Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) media incharge Harish Gaur said. The five-faced idol of Baba Kedar, which is carried from its winter abode at Ukhimath's Omkareshwar temple to Kedarnath, has left Gaurikund - the last stop on its way back to Kedarnath where it will be reinstalled inside the temple amid elaborate rituals, he said.
Uttarakhand CM welcomes devotees
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also welcomed and greeted the devotees for the Chardham Yatra. "Today, on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, the doors of Shri Kedarnath Dham, Shri Yamunotri Dham and Shri Gangotri Dham will be opened for darshan with full rituals. Hearty welcome and greetings to all the devotees for the Chardham Yatra," he wrote on his X account.
Annual pilgrimage: Sacred idol's journey to Kedarnath
The idol will be worshipped before its portals are thrown open for devotees, Gaur added. The idol is carried by barefoot BKTC volunteers on their shoulders from Ukhimath to Kedarnath every year. Devotees from the country as well as from abroad are also part of the procession, Gaur said.
Meanwhile, 135 vehicles carrying 4,050 Chardham pilgrims were flagged off from Rishikesh on Thursday for the Himalayan temples. Speaking at the flag-off, Cabinet Minister Premchand Aggarwal said a record number of pilgrims will visit Char Dham this year.
Journey of devotion
As preparations for the Yatra reach a crescendo, devotees from all corners of the country, and even from overseas, make their way to the foothills of the Himalayas. Amidst the backdrop of majestic mountains and serene landscapes, the Yatra promises not only a physical journey but also a profound inner transformation.
(With inputs from PTI)
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