Saturday, 11 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Char Dham Yatra started with the reopening of Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri temples on Friday. A large number of devotees had gathered in Kedarnath for the reopening which also saw flowers being showered from a helicopter.
In Rudraprayag district, the portals of Kedarnath were ritually opened to the devotees at 7AM. According to officials, more than 7,000 people were present on the occasion. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present on the occasion. He greeted the devotees and prayed for prosperity in the nation and State. Stating that the number of pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra this year will break past records, the CM said that the State government is committed to ensuring the convenience of the pilgrims. According to the officials of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), more than 7,000 devotees were present in Kedarnath on the occasion of its reopening. The temple was decorated with more than 20 quintals of flowers. Flowers were showered from a helicopter when the portals of the temple were opened. Bhandaras were also organised in various locations to provide meals to the devotees.
Earlier, the pilgrims started gathering in the temple premises at about 4 AM on Friday. The Rawal Bhimashankar Ling, BKTC chairman Ajendra Ajay, Pujaris, Dharmacharyas and Vedpathis along with senior officials accessed the temple from the eastern entrance. Ritual prayers were initiated, lord Bhairavnath and lord Shiva were invoked and the portals of the temple were opened to the devotees at 7 AM.
