PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Uttarkashi
The Char Dham Yatra started in Uttarakhand with the reopening of the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham in Uttarkashi on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya on Sunday. The first Pooja was offered on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in both the Dham. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present during the reopening of the Gangotri Dham where he formally offered the first ritual prayers on behalf of the PM. Dhami prayed for the successful conduct of the Char Dham Yatra along with peace and prosperity for the nation.
In accordance with religious traditions, the Utsav Doli of Goddess Ganga reached Gangotri from Bhairav Ghati in the morning. Amidst Vedic chanting and ritual worship, the portals of Gangotri were opened to devotees at 12:15 PM. The Doli of Goddess Yamuna led by Shani Dev reached Yamunotri from her winter seat at Kharsali. The portals of Yamunotri were ceremoniously opened to the public at 12:35 PM.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM greeted the devotees on the start of the Char Dham Yatra. He said that the government has made elaborate and effective arrangements for a safe, systematic and convenient Yatra. An attempt has been made to ensure the availability of all necessary basic facilities for the convenience of the pilgrims. Special focus has been laid on efficient traffic management on the Yatra routes so that the visitors do not face any inconvenience. Dhami said, “The focus of the State government is on ensuring that in addition to seeking blessings of the deities, every pilgrim should also have a good, safe and memorable experience in Uttarakhand. We also appeal to all the devotees to cooperate with the authorities for a green and clean Char Dham Yatra by staying alert when it comes to sanitation and environmental conservation,” he said.
Cabinet minister Pradee Batra, MLA Suresh Chauhan, Uttarkashi district magistrate Prashant Arya, superintendent of police Kamlesh Upadhyay and multitudes of devotees were also present on the occasion.
