Uttarakhand: Thousands take holy dip at Pushkar Kumbh in Keshav Prayag
According to a release from the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office (CMO), thousands of devotees have so far taken a holy bath on the banks of the Alaknanda and Saraswati rivers.
This year, the Kumbh is being held from May 14 to May 26. From dawn to dusk, the ghats of Keshav Prayag resonate with bhajans and kirtans.
This fair, organised every 12 years at Keshav Prayag, the confluence of the Alaknanda and Saraswati rivers, is associated with great saints like Maharishi Vedvyas, Ramanujacharya, and Madhvacharya, to whom most people from South India go for bathing.
Notably, most people from South India come to bathe during this occasion, the CMO said in a statement.
Uttarakhand's official said that the police and administration have ensured effective arrangements for devotees' safety, route management, and emergency services.
Earlier in the day, the doors of the sacred Rudranath temple, known as the fourth Kedar, reopened for devotees on Sunday morning after being closed during the winter months.
Located at over 10,000 feet in Chamoli district, the Shiva shrine of the Panchkedar group of temples draws lakhs of pilgrims from across the country and abroad every year.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the reopening, saying, 'Today, the name of Rudra echoed once again in the peaceful valleys of the Himalayas!'He praised the religious significance of the event and emphasised the state's continued efforts to enhance the pilgrim experience.
The Rudranath temple, nestled deep in the Garhwal Himalayas, holds great importance among the Panch Kedar temples.
The shrine had remained closed during the harsh winter months due to heavy snowfall and extreme weather.
Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government said on Saturday that the helicopter services for the Char Dham Yatra have resumed and are running smoothly.
The Char Dham Yatra 2025 officially began on April 30 with the opening of the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham on Akshaya Tritiya amid Vedic chants and rituals. The doors of Kedarnath Dham were opened on May 2, and those of Badrinath on May 4. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Himachal CM Sukhu Reviews Flood, Landslide Situation In Mandi, Kullu
Last Updated: CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reviewed the impact of continuous rainfall in Mandi, Kullu, and Kinnaur. Flash floods disrupted traffic on the Chandigarh-Manali Highway. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reviewed the impact of continuous rainfall in Mandi, Kullu, and Kinnaur districts on Sunday. The CM spoke to the Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts, seeking detailed reports on the extent of damage, and directed them to send comprehensive reports to the state government. He also instructed the district administrations to extend all possible assistance to the affected families and to ensure swift and effective relief measures, news agency ANI reported. CM Sukhu instructed officials to speed up the restoration of blocked roads and step up relief operations. He also urged people to stay away from rivers and streams and to adhere to advisories issued by district administrations strictly. #WATCH | Takoli, Himachal Pradesh: Multiple flash flood incidents reported today in Mandi district at Panarsa, Takoli and Nagwain areas along the Mandi–Kullu stretch of the Chandigarh–Manali National Highway.(Visuals from Mandi-Kullu Highway; Source: SP Mandi) — ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2025 Stressing citizen safety, the Chief Minister said it remains the State Government's top priority and assured that the Government stands firmly with the people during this difficult period. 'There have been a lot of landslides due to heavy rain. A lot of damage has been done to both public and private properties. We will plan the movement of the transports; this will be our target for today," Devgan said. Flash floods struck Panarsa, Takoli, and Nagwain along the Mandi-Kullu section of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway, cutting connectivity at several points and severely disrupting traffic. No casualties have been reported so far, ASP Mandi Sachin Hiremath said. Police personnel are maintaining a strict vigil at affected sites, while restoration work is underway to reopen the route. Himachal Pradesh continues to reel under heavy monsoon rains. According to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), the state has recorded 261 deaths between June 20 and August 16, 2025, ANI reported. Of these, 136 were caused by rain-related incidents such as landslides, floods, flash floods, drowning, electrocution, and house collapses, while 125 lives were lost in road accidents. Mandi district has been particularly affected, reporting 26 rain-related deaths and extensive damage to infrastructure. Other severely hit districts include Kangra (28 deaths), Chamba (10), and Kullu (11). The HPSDMA report highlights damage worth Rs 2,14,457 lakh to public and private property. Roads, water supply schemes, agriculture, horticulture, and electricity infrastructure have suffered heavily. The Public Works Department alone reported losses exceeding Rs 1.18 lakh crore, while combined agricultural and horticultural losses are estimated at over Rs 83,000 crore. Road connectivity remains one of the worst-hit sectors, with frequent blockages on NH-05 (Kinnaur) and NH-305 (Kullu), leaving several interior villages cut off and delaying rescue and relief operations. Location : Himachal Pradesh, India, India First Published: News india Himachal CM Sukhu Reviews Flood, Landslide Situation In Mandi, Kullu Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Himachal CM Sukhu reviews situation of floods and landslide situation
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 17 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday reviewed the situation arising out of incessant rainfall in Mandi, Kullu and Kinnaur CM personally spoke to the Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts, seeking detailed reports on the extent of damage, and directed them to send comprehensive reports to the state he also instructed the district administrations to extend all possible assistance to the affected families and to ensure swift and effective relief also directed on restoration of blocked roads be expedited and to intensify the relief operations. Appealing to the public to stay away from rivers and streams, the Chief Minister urged people to strictly follow the advisories issued by the district administrations from time to the safety of the citizens, the CM said that the safety of every citizen is the top priority of the State Government and assured that the Government stands firmly with the people in this difficult in the day, Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan assured that plans had been made regarding the movement of Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan said, 'There have been a lot of landslides due to heavy rain. A lot of damage has been done to both public and private properties. We will plan the movement of the transports; this will be our target for today."Flash floods were reported at Panarsa, Takoli, and Nagwain along the Mandi-Kullu stretch of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway, blocking connectivity at several points and causing major disruption to vehicular movement. No human casualties have been reported so far, according to Sachin Hiremath, Assistant Superintendent of Police, personnel are maintaining a strict vigil at affected sites, while restoration work is underway to reopen the Pradesh continues to reel under heavy monsoon rains. According to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), the state has recorded 261 deaths between June 20 and August 16, 2025. Of these, 136 were caused by rain-related incidents such as landslides, floods, flash floods, drowning, electrocution, and house collapses, while 125 lives were lost in road accidents. Mandi district has been particularly affected, reporting 26 rain-related deaths and extensive damage to infrastructure. Other severely hit districts include Kangra (28 deaths), Chamba (10), and Kullu (11).The HPSDMA report highlights damage worth Rs 2,14,457 lakh to public and private property. Roads, water supply schemes, agriculture, horticulture, and electricity infrastructure have suffered heavily. The Public Works Department alone reported losses exceeding Rs 1.18 lakh crore, while combined agricultural and horticultural losses are estimated at over Rs 83,000 crore. Road connectivity remains one of the worst-hit sectors, with frequent blockages on NH-05 (Kinnaur) and NH-305 (Kullu), leaving several interior villages cut off and delaying rescue and relief operations. (ANI)
News18
7 hours ago
- News18
We will plan movement of transport Mandi DC on landslide damage in Himachal
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 17 (ANI): Multiple flash floods and landslides have disrupted traffic and caused extensive damage to public and private property in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, officials said on Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan said, 'There have been a lot of landslides due to heavy rain. A lot of damage has been done to both public and private properties. We will plan the movement of the transports; this will be our target for today."Flash floods were reported at Panarsa, Takoli, and Nagwain along the Mandi-Kullu stretch of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway, blocking connectivity at several points and causing major disruption to vehicular movement. No human casualties have been reported so far, according to Sachin Hiremath, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mandi. Police personnel are maintaining strict vigil at affected sites, while restoration work is underway to reopen the Pradesh continues to reel under heavy monsoon rains. According to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), the state has recorded 261 deaths between June 20 and August 16, 2025. Of these, 136 were caused by rain-related incidents such as landslides, floods, flash floods, drowning, electrocution, and house collapses, while 125 lives were lost in road accidents. Mandi district has been particularly affected, reporting 26 rain-related deaths and extensive damage to infrastructure. Other severely hit districts include Kangra (28 deaths), Chamba (10), and Kullu (11).The HPSDMA report highlights damage worth Rs 2,14,457 lakh to public and private property. Roads, water supply schemes, agriculture, horticulture, and electricity infrastructure have suffered heavily. The Public Works Department alone reported losses exceeding Rs 1.18 lakh crore, while combined agricultural and horticultural losses are estimated at over Rs 83,000 crore. Road connectivity remains one of the worst-hit sectors, with frequent blockages on NH-05 (Kinnaur) and NH-305 (Kullu), leaving several interior villages cut off and delaying rescue and relief and livestock have also suffered, with 278 houses fully damaged, 288 partially damaged, 703 cowsheds destroyed, and over 27,000 animals and birds lost. Authorities said restoring essential services–roads, power, and water supply–remains a top priority, but continuous rainfall and recurring landslides are slowing the process. Residents have been advised to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow weather advisories. (ANI)
