PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The portals of the eleventh Jyotirlinga, the Kedarnarth Dham were ceremoniously opened for public Darshan on Wednesday.
Amid chanting of hymns, the portals opened at 8 AM on the day. The pilgrims welcomed the portal opening with chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Jai Shri Kedar’. The first puja in the Dham was performed in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the portal opening ceremony. He prayed for happiness, prosperity and peace for the state and the country in Kedarnath. He said that Kedarnath Dham is not only a major centre of faith for the followers of Sanatan Dharma but it is also a symbol of India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage. Dhami said that the Chardham Yatra is setting new records every year and exuded confidence that with the blessings of Baba Kedar, the Yatra will be historic this year also.
He said that the State government has made extensive arrangements to ensure a safe, orderly and smooth Chardham Yatra. The CM called on all the people of the State to maintain a spirit of service and hospitality towards pilgrims visiting the Dhams from India and abroad.
Describing PM Modi as an ardent devotee of Baba Kedarnath, Dhami said that under his guidance, Kedarnath Dham has been reconstructed in a grand and divine manner after the disaster of 2103.
The Panchmukhi Utsav Doli of Lord Kedarnath had reached the shrine on Tuesday evening from its winter abode of Shri Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. The procession passed through Guptkashi, Phata and Gaurikund on its 17 km route to reach Kedarnath. The Doli was accompanied by a musical band of the 8th Sikh Light Infantry.
The process of the opening of the portals of Kedarnath Dham began at 5 AM on Wednesday. Thereafter the Rawal Bhimashankar Ling, head priest T Gangadhar, CM Dhami, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, Teerth Purohit Umesh Chandra Posti entered the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and performed the Pooja. The portals were opened to devotees at 8 AM with the invocation of the gods and a pledge for public welfare.
The temple was decorated with more than 51 quintals of flowers. A helicopter showered flowers on the pilgrims during the opening ceremony.
The wife of CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Geeta Dhami, BKTCC president Hemant Dwivedi, district magistrate Rudraprayag Vishal Mishra, superintendent of police Neeharika Tomar and others were present on the occasion.
