Portals Of Kedarnath Shrine Open For Devotees

The chief temple priest Rawal Bhima Shankar Ling opened the gates of Kedarnath Dham amid the rituals and chanting of shlokas.

Kedarnath portals open for the pilgrims to offer their prayers after a winter break, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was among the thousands of pilgrims that showed up at the shrine on the first day ( Image Source :PTI )

The portals of Kedarnath opened on Tuesday after a winter break and thousands of pilgrims showed up at the snow-covered shrine to offer prayers while braving sub-zero temperatures. The chief temple priest Rawal Bhima Shankar Ling opened the gates of Kedarnath Dham amid the rituals and chanting of shlokas. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also one of the devotees that showed up on the first day to offer prayers. A helicopter showered flower petals on the pilgrims on this auspicious occasion, reported news agency PTI.

PTI posted a two-minute video from the site showcasing the pilgrims thronging the route to the Kedarnath shrine. Pilgrims stood in lines outside the shrine as they waited for the doors of the temple to open. 

VIDEO | The portals of Kedarnath Temple in the Garhwal Himalayas opened for devotees early morning today. The temple has been decorated with 35 quintals of flowers. pic.twitter.com/IZsiEGjqmZ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 25, 2023

Following the intermittent snowfall in the area over the past few days, Kedarnath and its surrounding areas are covered under sheets of snow. However, the snow has been cleared from the trek routes to ensure a smooth and risk-free experience for the pilgrims. 

India Meteorological Department forecasted inclement weather in the area over the next few days and the devotees that are still on the way to the temple have been advised to stay at the main halts in Rishikesh, Bhadrakali and Vyasi for the time being.

As per India Today, Tehri SSP Navneet Singh Bhullar said that in view of the forecast of snowfall and bad weather in Kedarnath, the pilgrims have been stopped at Bhadrakali and Vyasi and asked to stay at Rishikesh for the time being.

Kedarnath shrine is part of the Char Dham. The three other 'Dhams' are Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri which are all located above 10,000 ft in the Garhwal Himalayas.