Sunday, 19 September 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
More than 419 pilgrims visited the Char Dham shrines in Uttarakhand on the first day after its start on Saturday. At the same time 19,491 persons have been issued e-passes by the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board for visiting the Char Dham shrines.
It will be recalled that after the Uttarakhand high court vacated the stay on conduct of the Char Dham Yatra, the State government issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for starting the pilgrimage from Saturday. According to information provided by the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board, on the first day of the Yatra, till 4 PM on Saturday 335 persons had visited the Badrinath shrine, 84 had visited Kedarnath while local devotees had visited the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines. At the same time, 19,491 e- passes were issued till 4 PM on Saturday for those wanting to visit the Char Dham shrines. These included 4,830 e-passes issued to persons for Badrinath, 10,010 for Kedarnath, 2,375 for Gangotri and 2,276 for Yamunotri.
Meanwhile, the start of the Char Dham Yatra has elicited enthusiasm among the devotees and locals involved in businesses dependent on tourists for income. Hundreds of people visited Badrinath- the most visited among Char Dham shrines- on Saturday amidst chants of Jai Badrivishal. The devotees were allowed to pay obeisance to god Badrinath in the shrine from 5 AM. At the same time, hotels and eateries among other businesses, including shops reliant on visitors have also started full fledged operations. This temple township which was in a sedate form for about four months now has now become active and bustling with activity. Elsewhere in Chamoli district, upto 80 members of the Sikh community visited Hemkund Sahib adjoining the Lakshman temple at Lokpal with the opening of the Gurudwara for devotees on Saturday.
