Snow clad views to greet pilgrims as Kedarnath portals open on May 9
The portals of Kedarnath, dedicated to Shiva, is opening on 9 May this year at 5.00 p.m. on Thursday. Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee president Mohan Lal Thapliyal said that heavy snow was still in Kedarnath temple premises, but the road to the temple has been cleared.
After heavy snowfall in January-February in Kedarnath, located at a height of 11,755 feet in Rudraprayag district, a large number of houses were damaged, after which the government was able to clear the snow which was 15 to 20 feet high and repaired the destroyed structures. The government has arranged for about 3000 pilgrims to stay at Kedarnath in the night.
Most of the ice has already melted, but Kedarnath still has 4 to 5 feet of snow, which the pilgrims can enjoy. Thapaliyal said, ‘From us, all arrangements for smooth operation of Badrinath and Kedarnath temples have been completed.’
However, a bridge is still in bad condition on the road leading to the Yamunotri temple in Uttarkashi district, on which repair work is going on.
Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat assured the pilgrims of successful journey of four places of worship. He said, “Uttarakhand is ready to welcome the pilgrims coming for Chardham Yatra.” The safety of the pilgrims and various other facilities will be taken care of.
Earlier on May 7, with the Vedas and other customs, the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri temples were opened on Tuesday on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, and along with this, six month long four major Hindu shrines pilgramage in Uttarakhand- The ‘Chardham’ journey started.
Earlier, on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya in the Uttarkashi district, statues of Goddess Ganga and Yamuna were taken in the palanquin in their own temples in the morning, where the chief priests had installed idols in the sanctorum between Mantras. In the winter, idol of Goddess Ganga is placed in the Mukhba temple and idol of Goddess Yamuna in Kharsali temple.
