The sacred portals of the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath were thrown open to devotees on Friday morning, marking the start of this year’s pilgrimage season with an air of devotion, celebration, and faith.
At 7 am, as chants of “Har Har Mahadev” echoed through the snow-capped peaks, over 12,000 pilgrims gathered at the 11,755-foot-high temple to witness the ceremonial reopening, temple committee officials said.
The shrine, adorned with 108 quintals of flowers across 54 varieties including roses and marigolds sourced from Nepal, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, stood resplendent against the dramatic mountain backdrop.
“The temple looked like a divine floral palace today,” said Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) media in-charge Harish Gaur.
The process of opening the gates began at 5 am with the Rawal (chief priest) Bhimashankar Ling leading rituals, accompanied by priests, MLA Asha Nautiyal, district officials, and spiritual leaders. Traditional prayers were held at the sanctum sanctorum before the doors were opened to the waiting devotees.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performed the first puja, seeking blessings for the prosperity and welfare of the nation.
Kedarnath, one of the revered Char Dham sites and the 11th Jyotirlinga, draws lakhs of devotees every year. It is the third Char Dham temple to reopen this season following Gangotri and Yamunotri (April 30). Badrinath temple will open on May 4.
A new spiritual attraction this year is a grand ‘aarti’ at the confluence of the Mandakini and Saraswati rivers, modeled on the famed Ganga Aartis of Varanasi and Haridwar. “We have built ramps on three sides of the confluence for devotees to witness the aarti,” said BKTC CEO Vijay Prasad Thapliyal.
As pilgrims thronged the temple, officials assured that all arrangements have been made for their comfort and safety during the yatra.
➡️ With the temple gates now open, the spiritual heart of the Himalayas once again beats to the rhythm of devotion and timeless faith.
🗞️ Stay connected for more updates on the Char Dham Yatra 2025.
