Kedarnath, May 2 — The sacred portals of Kedarnath Temple, one of Hinduism’s most revered shrines, were thrown open to pilgrims on Friday morning, marking the beginning of the annual Char Dham Yatra season.
More than 12,000 devotees gathered to witness the ceremonial reopening of the temple nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas.
Located at an altitude of over 11,000 feet, the temple gates were opened precisely at 7 a.m., officials from the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) confirmed.
The elaborate ritual process began at 5 a.m., culminating in the grand opening ceremony.
The centuries-old shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva and counted among the twelve Jyotirlingas, was decked with 108 quintals of flowers comprising 54 varieties, including marigold and roses.
The blooms were sourced from countries such as Nepal, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, BKTC media in-charge Harish Gaur said.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the ceremony and was the first to offer prayers at the temple.
“I prayed for the happiness, health, and prosperity of all citizens,” Dhami told reporters after the puja.
Kedarnath is the third temple in the Char Dham circuit to open this season. Gangotri and Yamunotri temples welcomed devotees on April 30, while Badrinath is scheduled to open on May 4.
Among the four shrines, Kedarnath draws the largest number of visitors annually, with lakhs of devotees arriving from across India and abroad.
The temple remains inaccessible during the harsh winter months due to heavy snowfall, making the annual opening a spiritually significant and eagerly awaited event.
