Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand: The Kedarnath Dham opened its doors to devotees on Friday, marking the beginning of the annual Char Dham Yatra season. Over 30,000 pilgrims visited the holy shrine on the first day, as per official figures released at 7 PM on May 2. The data included 19,196 male pilgrims, 10,597 female pilgrims, and 361 others.
The ceremonial opening was accompanied by devotional tunes performed by the Indian Army’s Garhwal Rifles band. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was present at the event and distributed prasad to devotees at the Mukhya Sevak Bhandara organized at the Kedarnath premises.
Addressing the gathering, CM Dhami confirmed that the doors of Badrinath Dham will open on May 4. He emphasized that the state government is fully prepared to welcome pilgrims and ensure their safety throughout the yatra.
“The Char Dham Yatra, which began on April 30 during Akshaya Tritiya, is the lifeline of Uttarakhand and a source of livelihood for millions. We’ve implemented all necessary arrangements along the route to ensure a smooth and safe journey for devotees,” said the Chief Minister.
Dhami also reiterated the state’s commitment to making the pilgrimage a year-round spiritual journey by promoting winter Char Dham Yatra options. He confirmed that ₹2,000 crore has been allocated for Kedarnath’s reconstruction and development, and that the central government has approved a ropeway project connecting Gaurikund to Kedarnath to improve accessibility.
The Char Dham Yatra covers four sacred shrines—Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri—and draws lakhs of pilgrims annually. Authorities continue to monitor the yatra closely to ensure safety, crowd management, and uninterrupted spiritual experiences for all devotees.
