Aged & handicapped devotees to get preference in darshan at Badrinath & Kedarnath
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has decided that the aged and handicapped devotees will get preference in darshan at Badrinath and Kedarnath. The decision was taken on the committee chairman Hemant Dwivedi’s directions considering the safety, dignity and convenience of such pilgrims.
Dwivedi said that priority is being accorded to the aged and differently abled devotees for darshan in Badrinath and Kedarnath. He claimed that the BKTC has made special arrangements for the convenience of such pilgrims in both these Dham so that the aged and handicapped devotees can have a safe and convenient darshan of the lord.The BKTC chief executive officer Sohan Singh Rangad said as per the standard operating procedures based on Dwivedi’s directions, a priority darshan system has been implemented for the aged and differently abled devotees.
Darshan will be facilitated for slots of 50 devotees every 15 minutes in Badrinath and Kedarnath totalling to four slots in one hour. He said that during the designated hour, only the aged and handicapped will have darshan of the lord. The hour has been divided in both the Dham from 8 AM to 8:15 AM, 10 Am to 10:15 AM, 3 PM to 3:15 PM and 4:45 PM to 5 PM. Rangad further said that the BKTC has started this arrangement according to the SOP in Badrinath and Kedarnath.
As per the SOP, the facility will be provided based on the Aadhaar card of the devotees and assessment of the actual level of handicap for those aged above 70 years and the handicapped. The committee is working in coordination with the administration, Police-Home Guard help desk, the CEO added. At a time when rush of pilgrims is reportedly causing some inconvenience to pilgrims, the BKTC’s decision is expected to enhance the pilgrimage experience for the aged and handicapped devotees.
