PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
A total of 10,388 and 1,421 pilgrims have so far registered themselves for Darshans at Yamunotri and Gangotri Dhams respectively for the opening day of the Char Dham Yatra this year. The world famous Yatra is commencing on April 19 with the opening of portals of Yamunotri and Gangotri. The pilgrims consider it auspicious to start their Char Dham Yatra with the Darshan at Yamunotri Dham in Uttarkashi district. The data of the Tourism Department shows that 18,41,142 pilgrims have so far registered for the Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib Yatra this year. A total of 6,39,608 pilgrims have so far registered for Darshan at Kedarnath followed by 5,42,797 pilgrim registrations for Badrinath Dham. Similarly 3,24,780 pilgrims have registered for Gangotri, 3,15,780 for Yamunotri and 18,167 for Hemkund Sahib Yatraso far.
A total of 2,713 pilgrims have so far registered at the offline registration centres for the Char Dham Yatra. The department has set up registration centres at Haridwar, Rishikesh Gurudwara, Nayagaun, Herbertpur and Rishikesh Transit Camp.
After the opening of portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri on April 19, the portals of Kedarnath Dham will open on April 22 while the Badrinath Dham’s portals will be ceremonially opened on April 23.
About 50 lakh pilgrims had visited the State last year for the Char Dham Yatra. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed the State administration to make all the preparations for a safe Yatra. He has asked the officers to emphasize on a Plastic free Yatra this year.
