Kedarnath temple to reopen on April 22; Char Dham Yatra dates announced

Dehradun: The portals of the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalayas will reopen to devotees on April 22 at 8 am, officials said on Sunday. The date and time were decided on Maha Shivratri at its winter seat, the Omkareshwar Temple, following traditional rituals and almanac calculations. The temple was decorated with nearly 10 quintals of flowers for the occasion. The ceremony was attended by Kedarnath rawal (chief priest) Bhimashankar Ling, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal and senior members of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), including chairman Hemant Dwivedi, vice-chairman Vijay Kaparwan and chief executive officer Vijay Prasad Thapliyal. Priests, hak-hakookdhari representatives and hundreds of devotees were also present.Officials also announced the schedule for the ceremonial Panchmukhi Doli of Lord Kedarnath. The palanquin will depart from Omkareshwar Temple on April 19 for Phata, halt at Gaurikund the following day and reach Kedarnath on April 21. The temple doors will open to pilgrims the next morning. Rituals at the winter seat, including Bhairavnath worship, will conclude by April 18.The schedule for the Char Dham Yatra was also finalised. Officials said the portals of the Gangotri Temple and the Yamunotri Temple will reopen on April 19 on Akshaya Tritiya, while the Badrinath Temple will reopen on April 23. Dwivedi said preparations for the pilgrimage, including inspections of offices and guest houses, are being intensified in coordination with the state govt to ensure a safe and well-organised yatra season.