Char Dham Yatra begins with opening of Gangotri, Yamunotri temples

For the next six months, devotees will be able to visit both the pilgrimage sites.

Accompanied by his cabinet colleagues, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami flagged off a convoy of buses with pilgrims on board by showing them green flags, saying the yatra this year was set to break all previous records. (Express)

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The Char Dham Yatra began on Saturday with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri temples in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district.

As per schedule, the doors of Gangotri Dham were opened at 12.35 pm and Yamunotri Dham at 12.41. For the next six months, devotees will be able to visit both the pilgrimage sites.

The portals of Kedarnath will open on April 25 and Badrinath on April 27.

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The first prayer was done in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister

Pushkar Singh Dhami offered prayers at Kharsali in Yamunotri as well as Gangotri Dham. Devotees were also showered with rose petals from a helicopter.

The CM welcomed devotees and said, “All preparations have been done for the Yatra. The state government is determined for a safe and smooth travel. Every possible facility will be made available to the devotees. All arrangements for the Yatra are being regularly monitored.”

On Friday the state government decided to drop the daily cap on the number of devotees for the Yatra.

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Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said 16 lakh pilgrims have so far registered for the Yatra which includes over 6 lakh for Kedarnath, 5.07 lakh for Badrinath, 3.07 lakh for Gangotri, 2.62 lakh for Yamunotri and over 11,000 for Hemkund Sahib.

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