Kedarnath Temple Reopens to Devotees Today

The portals of the Himalayan temple Kedarnath were ceremoniously opened on Friday, drawing more than 12,000 pilgrims. The temple, located at an altitude of over 11,000 feet, had its gates opened at 7 am, according to officials from the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC). As part of the grand reopening ceremony, the temple was lavishly decorated with 108 quintals of flowers comprising 54 different varieties, including roses and marigolds, which were specially sourced from various countries such as Nepal, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.

Kedarnath is one of the four sacred Char Dham temples and holds the distinction of being the 11th Jyotirlinga dedicated to Lord Shiva. Among the Char Dham shrines, it consistently draws the highest number of devotees annually. It is also the third of the four temples in the Char Dham circuit to reopen after the winter break. The Gangotri and Yamunotri temples reopened earlier on April 30, and the Badrinath temple is scheduled to open on May 4.

The reopening rituals at Kedarnath began early in the morning, starting at 5 am, as confirmed by BKTC media in-charge Harish Gaur. Rawal (Chief Priest) Bhimashankar Ling, along with priest Bagesh Ling, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar, BKTC CEO Vijay Prasad Thapliyal, Tirtha priest Srinivas Posti, several religious leaders, and Vedpathis entered the temple from the east gate. They took part in the worship rituals conducted at the gate of the sanctum sanctorum before the temple’s main portals were officially opened to devotees.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present during the opening ceremony. He performed the first puja after the gates were opened, offering prayers for the well-being and prosperity of all. The Kedarnath temple, a major pilgrimage destination, sees lakhs of visitors from across India and abroad each year. The temple typically remains closed during the harsh winter months due to extreme weather conditions in the region.

A significant new feature added for pilgrims this year is a grand “aarti” ceremony, modeled after the iconic Ganga Aartis performed in places like Varanasi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh. This aarti will take place at the confluence of the Mandakini and Saraswati rivers, located near the temple. BKTC CEO Vijay Thapliyal mentioned that all necessary arrangements have been made to facilitate this spiritual offering, including the construction of viewing ramps on three sides of the river confluence. These platforms will allow devotees to witness the aarti comfortably and safely.

The temple’s reopening marks a spiritually significant event in the Char Dham pilgrimage calendar, and the elaborate preparations and decorations reflect its importance. The BKTC and state administration ensured all protocols and arrangements were in place for a smooth and safe darshan experience for the thousands of pilgrims who made the journey to this revered Himalayan shrine.