Coronavirus impacts opening of Chardham
The impact of coronavirus will also be seen on the Chardham Yatra. Due to this, the date of opening of the portals of Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham has been changed. The portals of Badrinath will now be opened on May 15 at 4:30 am, while the likely date for the opening of the Kedarnath shrine may be May 14. However, the Gangotri and Yamunotri will open on the scheduled date.
The Coronavirus infection has also had an impact on the Chardham Yatra. Due to the lockdown the dates of reopening of Kedarnath and Badrinath had to be changed to prevent spread of the virus.
Apart from this, the new date will be announced after discussions with Rawal Bhimashankar Linga to open the doors of Kedarnath Dham. It is probable that the date may be 14 May. At the same time, the doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham will be opened on April 26.
It is worth mentioning that the doors of Badrinath Dham were to be opened for devotees at Brahma Muhurta at 4.30 pm on April 30. On the Basant Panchami, at the Narendranagar Rajmahal, in the presenceof Rajpurohits Maharaja Manujayndra Shah of Tehri announced the date for reopening of Badrinath.
Gangotri Temple Committee Chairman Pt Suresh Semwal said that the Gangotri Dham doors are opened on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The business side of Char Dham Yatra is different, but the performing of rituals is necessary.
Due to the disasters, it has happened many times, when the doors of the dham opened, but the Char Dham Yatra did not start. Yamunotri Temple Committee Vice-President Jagmohan Uniyal said that the date of opening of the Yamunotri Dham is also fixed on the day of Akshaya Tritiya.
The Char Dham Yatra will only go on if the situation is normal, but the ancient tradition of opening the doors will be performed as per the rituals. Uniyal said that in compliance with the rules of lockdown and social distance, the Doli Yatra from Kharsali to Yamunotri Dham and outline of the opening of the trek is prepared and permission has been sought from the administration in this regard.
