The State’s Tourism, Culture and Public Works minister Satpal Maharaj has stressed that all departments should remain alert during the Char Dham Yatra which is slated to begin on May 3. Stating that the government had done all the preparations for the Yatra, he said that the departmental staff also needs to remain alert to ensure successful conduct of the pilgrimage.
Maharaj said that the portals of Gangotri will open at 11:15 AM and portals of Yamunotri will open at 12:15 PM on May 3. The portals of Kedarnath will open at 6:25 AM on May 6 while the portals of Badrinath will be opened at 6:15 AM on May 8. Apart from these, the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara and the Lokpal temple will be opened on May 22.
The minister said that the Panchmukhi Doli of lord Kedarnath will depart from his winter abode at Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath on May 2 at 9 AM. The procession will halt at the Vishwanath temple in Guptkashi from where it will reach Fata on the morning of May 3. From there it will depart on the next day for Gaurikund and from there it will depart on May 5 for Kedarnath. Similarly, the Devdoli of lord Badrinath will depart on May 6 at 9 AM from the Narsinh temple in Joshimath along with the seat of Adi Shankaracharya and the Gadu Ghada containing the sesame oil used to anoint the idol of the lord in the shrine. The Badrinath Rawal (chief priest), temple committee Acharya and Dimri Panchayat representatives will accompany the procession which will halt at Yogdhyan Badri in Pandukeshwar. The procession will depart the next morning for Badrinath.
The minister reiterated that the Char Dham Yatra is related to the prestige of Uttarakhand, stressing that there should not be any type of carelessness in the arrangements for the pilgrimage. Stating that a large number of devotees are expected to undertake the Yatra this year, he also called for collective efforts to ensure the successful conduct of the pilgrimage.
Maharaj also appealed to the persons undertaking the Char Dham Yatra to observe the Covid norms by wearing masks and observing sanitisation. The State government is committed to facilitating a convenient and safe Char Dham Yatra, added the minister. Attachments area
