Kedarnath Temple, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, Apr 23 (BNP): The sacred portals of Kedarnath Dham were ceremonially opened to devotees at 8:00 AM on April 22, 2026, amid Vedic chants and traditional rituals, marking the beginning of this year’s pilgrimage season.
The Himalayan shrine witnessed an overwhelming turnout, with over 12,000 devotees present to witness the grand opening ceremony. The temple premises were beautifully decorated with nearly 15 quintals of flowers, while the atmosphere echoed with chants of “Har Har Mahadev,” reflecting deep spiritual devotion.
Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, attended the ceremony, performed the first puja, and reviewed arrangements for the ongoing pilgrimage. Emphasizing efficient management, he stated that the queue system has been streamlined to ensure smooth and timely darshan for all pilgrims, with early visitors completing their prayers within minutes.
The Chief Minister also appealed to devotees to support a “Green Yatra” initiative by maintaining cleanliness and keeping the shrine area plastic-free.
The reopening of Kedarnath marks a key phase of the annual Char Dham Yatra. Meanwhile, the portals of Badrinath Temple opened on April 23 at 6:15 AM, while Yamunotri Temple and Gangotri Temple had already opened on April 19.
Authorities have put in place extensive arrangements to ensure the safety, facilities, and smooth movement of pilgrims, with a significant surge in footfall expected in the coming days.
