The Panchmukhi Utsav Doli of Lord Kedarnath arrived at Kedarnath Temple on Monday (April 24) amid heavy snowfall in Rudraprayag. The Kedarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence on Tuesday (April 25). On Friday, the Utsav Doli sailed for the Himalayas after spending the winter in Ukhimath. The Utsav Doli of Lord Kedarnath arrived at Gupta Kashi Vishwanath temple for its first-night stay earlier last week. The Char Dham yatra started on April 22, the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya.
Kedarnath Dham will open its doors on April 25. Meanwhile, the doors of Gangotri Dham opened on Saturday for visitors. The administration issued the health advisory in response to the increasing impact of Covid-19 cases and the weather in the high Himalayan region.
The government has asked all devotees to follow the guidelines because all pilgrimage sites are located in the high Himalayan region, which is more than 2,700 metres above sea level. According to the government, devotees in those areas may be affected by extreme cold, low humidity, extreme ultraviolet radiation, low air pressure, and low oxygen content. As a result, the health advisory should be followed to ensure a smooth and safe journey for all pilgrims.
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The government issued an advisory asking all devotees to follow the guidelines, saying, "Senior Citizens, people with comorbidities, and those who have previously suffered from COVID-19 should consider postponing or not undertaking the pilgrimage."
The Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra includes visits to four holy sites: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand is one of India's most popular Hindu pilgrimages.
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