Record 13 lakh bookings for Chardham Pilgrimage in eight days
The State Tourism Department called it a sign of record breaking flow of pilgrims to the four shrines as the pilgrimage season is scheduled to start on May 10.
The Char Dham Yatra, the main pilgrimage season of Uttarakhand, began in the hill state on Wednesday with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines.
Thousands of devotees visit the four famous Hindu shrines — Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri — located in the high Himalayas annually. The portals of Kedarnath will open on 29 April and those of Badrinath on 30 April.
Pilgrims will have to brave tough road condition as the work on the all-weather road is still underway. The portal of Gangotri was thrown open for pilgrims at 1.15 pm, while the doors of Yamunotri were opened at 12.15 pm on Wednesday. This time, a lot of curiousity prevails regarding the pilgrimage to Kedarnath as reconstruction work is going on at war footing in the holy township to provide better facilities to the pilgrims.
Gangotri temple committee’s secretary Suresh Semwal said, “The big participation of devotees on the Gangotri temple opening hints that the pilgrimage season will receive a good response. About 2,000 pilgrims attended the opening ceremony.”
The Char Dham Yatra is considered the backbone of Uttarakhand economy. This time, the construction of all-weather road is likely to pose some discomfort to the visitors as it may affect vehicular movement. As the all-weather road connecting the four major pilgrimage centres is the dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Uttarakhand government and implementing agency are ensuring timely completion of the project.
This time, visitors touring Yamunotri will find some change. Yamunotri temple committee’s secretary Kirteshwar Uniyal said, “We have introduced a ‘Prasad’ packet for devotees. The pack will contain Chaulai Ladoo, flower, small pitcher containing water of holy Yamuna.”
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