First batch of devotees embark on Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar
NEW DELHI: The first group of devotees departed from Haridwar on Tuesday morning in anticipation of the
Char Dham Yatra
, which is scheduled to commence on April 30.
The portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams will open on Wednesday, while the gates of Kedarnath Dham are set to open on May 2.
Badrinath Dham
will follow, with its opening scheduled for May 4.
Devotee Sunita Pandey shared her positive sentiments about participating in the Char Dham Yatra. She expressed her enthusiasm and appreciation for the governmental arrangements.
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"We are going for the Char Dham Yatra, it's a very good feeling. We are starting from Haridwar today. We are all very excited. I hope our yatra will be safe. The government has made good arrangements here", she said.
Fellow pilgrim Ajay Kumar voiced his satisfaction with the administrative preparations. "We came to Haridwar, and the arrangements here are very good. We did not face any problem in registration, etc., and everything went well. The facilities of hotels, etc., are also good here, and every arrangement is good here", Ajay Kumar said.
Surat resident Sharmila Gupta expressed her contentment with simply receiving darshan, stating her gratitude for
divine blessings
. "This is the first stop and we are happy that we are going on the Char Dham Yatra. All the facilities are good and we just want to have a good darshan and return safely. There is a very good feeling in the mind and I do not want to ask anything from God, he has given everything to me, just getting to see him is enough", she said.
On Monday, preparations intensified for the
Kedarnath Temple opening
. The
Panchmukhi idol
of Lord Kedarnath was ceremonially dispatched to the shrine following traditional rituals at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, Uttarakhand.
The Panchmukhi idol underwent the customary Panch-Snan before being placed on an adorned palanquin. Local students and residents gathered to welcome the doli with reverence. The idol's first overnight stop was scheduled at the Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi.
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