The Char Dham Yatra will begin today in Uttarakhand with the opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham in the Uttarkashi district. After six months of winter residence in Mukba village, the palanquin of Goddess Ganga was sent off for Gangotri Dham yesterday. The palanquin stopped for rest at Bhairav Temple in Bhairavghati last night.
Tirtha Purohit Rajesh Semwal said that today, the palanquin journey will proceed from Bhairavghati to Gangotri, where the temple gates will be opened at 10:30 AM with traditional prayers and Vedic chants.
On the other hand, the palanquin of Maa Yamuna will depart from her winter abode in Kharsali this morning for Yamunotri Dham, where the temple gates will be opened at 11:55 AM for devotees. The portals of Kedarnath Dham will open on Friday, and the gates of Badrinath Dham will open on Sunday.
Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams are set to open on Wednesday whereas the gates of Kedarnath Dham will open on May 2, followed by Badrinath Dham, which is scheduled to open on May 4.
Meanwhile, on Monday, as the preparations for the opening of Kedarnath Temple for Char Dham Yatra 2025 are in full swing. As part of the rituals leading up to the event, the Panchmukhi (five-faced) idol of Lord Kedarnath was ceremonially sent off to the shrine on Monday.
Before embarking on the journey, a special worship ceremony was held at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, Uttarakhand.
The Panchmukhi idol, after undergoing a traditional Panch-Snan (fivefold ceremonial bath) and decoration, was placed on a decorated palanquin (doli). School children and residents lined the streets to welcome the doli with devotion.
The idol will rest tonight at its first stop-Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi.