Friday, 06 May | PNS | Dehradun
The Kedarnath temple is all set to open for devotees today at 6:15 AM amidst Vedic rituals by the priests. Meanwhile the Char Dham Yatra was formally flagged off by cabinet ministers Prem Chand Agrawal and Chandan Ram Das from Rishikesh on Thursday. The ministers flagged off 30 vehicles carrying 1,200 pilgrims. Welcoming the pilgrims to Uttarakhand, Urban Development minister Agrawal said that the State government is monitoring the Yatra daily. All the departmental officers concerned have been directed to ensure that special focus is laid on the fitness of vehicles plying on the Yatra circuit. Stressing on the registration of all pilgrims, he said that the government should have a record of all the pilgrims.The minister averred that the State government has paid special attention to facilities for the travelers on the Yatra routes. Special focus is also being laid on maintaining sanitation, he added. For the first time, the government has asked hotels, restaurants and such enterprises to not take service charge from the travelers.
Transport minister Das appealed to the residents of Uttarakhand to provide all possible assistance to the travelers so that they do not face any inconvenience. The government is prepared to ensure better medical facilities. He said that the government is sensitive to the issue of fare hike and will find a middle path.
Meanwhile, as per tradition, the Panchmukhi Doli of lord Kedarnath has already reached Kedarnath from his winter abode at Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath. The Kedarnath shrine has been decorated with flowers for its ritual opening on Friday. All arrangements are already in place despite the rain and snowfall on May 4. The government expects a record footfall at Char Dham shrines this year as the full-fledged Yatra is taking place after a two-year gap due to the Covid pandemic. Over 1,90,000 pilgrims have confirmed their registration till May 31 for visiting Kedarnath. Bookings for helicopter services to Kedarnath are already full till June 5.
Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj has expressed happiness over commencement of Char dham Yatra in the state. “Kedarnath shrine is opening on Friday and the state is all set to welcome the pilgrims to the abode of lord Shiva. We are all prepared to provide the best of hospitality to the pilgrims,” he said. A total of 12,174 registrations have been done for the Kedarnath shrine for the day of opening of the shrine.
