The dates for opening of the portal of the highly revered Char Dham shrines in Uttarakhand are greatly awaited by pilgrims every year. After the discontinuation of the sacred yatra during the winter season from the Bhai Dooj the journey usually resumes from Akshaya Tritiya. The dates tend to vary in rarest of the rare situations, majorly depending on the weather condition and other factors as well.
The Char Dham Yatra is set to commence on April 30, coinciding with Akshaya Tritiya, when the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttarakhand will be opened for devotees. Meanwhile, during the Vasant Panchami celebrations on Sunday, the official announcement for the opening date of Badrinath Dham was made at the royal palace in Narendra Nagar, Tehri. A temple spokesperson confirmed that the portals of Badrinath will welcome devotees at 6 am on May 4. Additionally, on April 22, the ceremonial offering of sesame oil will take place, followed by the commencement of the ‘Gadu Ghada oil pot’ procession.
As for Kedarnath Dham, the date for its portal opening will be decided on February 26, during the Mahashivratri celebrations at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. Temple officials stated that the finalisation will be based on the Panchang calculations conducted by the Rawal and Dharmadhikari Vedpathi. Regarding Gangotri Dham, the official announcement of its portal opening will be made on the occasion of the Hindu New Year, as confirmed by Rawal Harish Semwal, the president of the Gangotri Temple Committee.
Due to the thick layers of ice that congregate around the temples of Char Dhams, the routes and the shrines become inaccessible and dangerous as well. Even during the monsoon season, sometimes the yatra is terminated temporarily due to bad weather conditions and landslides. Therefore, while planning for the Char Dham Yatra, also known as the Chota Char Dham Yatra, it is crucial to do prior planning as lots of preparations and bookings need to be conducted.
