DEHRADUN, Apr 22: The portals of Kedarnath Dham were opened to devotees at 8 am on Wednesday with Vedic chants and traditional rituals, marking the start of the annual pilgrimage season.
Thousands of pilgrims gathered at the Himalayan shrine, decorated with 15 quintals of flowers, as chants of “Har Har Mahadev” echoed during the ceremony.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the opening, offered the first prayers, and reviewed arrangements for the pilgrimage.
Dhami said the queue system has been streamlined to ensure smooth access for all devotees, noting that early batches completed their visit within five minutes.
He also urged pilgrims to support a “Green Yatra” by maintaining cleanliness and keeping the shrine area free of plastic.
Meanwhile, the portals of Badrinath Dham will open at 6:15 am on April 23, while Yamunotri and Gangotri were opened earlier on April 19 for the season. (Agencies)
