Kedarnath Opening: Sacred Rituals Begin As CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Rawal Arrive For Grand Ceremony

As the sacred Kedarnath Dham prepares to open its doors, the atmosphere has turned majestic and spiritually charged. The military band has arrived, playing devotional tunes while marching toward the temple, marking the final phase of the elaborate opening ceremony. The Panchmukhi palanquin has reached the temple, and the sacred traditions are unfolding with grandeur. Rawal, considered the religious equivalent of Shankaracharya and holder of the title "Jagatguru," is present, accompanied by the head priest Vagesh Ling, a member of the Lingayat community who will lead the rituals for the next six months. The priests carry symbolic “Dev Chhadi” — divine staffs once used in processions before 1964, now represented through the deity's palanquin. As the final moments approach, a serpent-shaped key will be used to open the temple doors precisely at 7 AM. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, accompanied by his wife, has also arrived, holding a sacred clove garland to offer to Lord Kedarnath. The presence of the CM and the echoing chants of “Har Har Mahadev” highlight the spiritual intensity and cultural importance of this divine event.