The sacred Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath reopened its doors to devotees on Friday morning, drawing an impressive crowd of over 12,000 pilgrims for the auspicious occasion. Situated at an elevation exceeding 11,000 feet, the temple’s portals were ceremonially opened at 7 a.m., as confirmed by officials from the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC).
Marking the occasion with grandeur, the revered temple was ornately decorated with 108 quintals of flowers, comprising 54 different varieties including roses and marigolds. These blooms were specially sourced from nations such as Nepal, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
Kedarnath, revered as the 11th Jyotirlinga and a major stop in the Char Dham Yatra, consistently attracts the largest number of pilgrims among the four shrines. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and holds deep spiritual significance for millions.
Following Gangotri and Yamunotri, which reopened on April 30, Kedarnath becomes the third Char Dham shrine to welcome pilgrims this season. Badrinath is scheduled to open its gates on May 4. The rituals to commence the reopening began at 5 a.m., according to BKTC media in-charge Harish Gaur.
A host of dignitaries and religious leaders were present for the occasion, including Chief Priest (Rawal) Bhimashankar Ling, priest Bagesh Ling, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar, BKTC CEO Vijay Prasad Thapliyal, Tirtha priest Srinivas Posti, as well as Vedpathis and other spiritual figures. Entering through the eastern gate, they participated in the ceremonial worship at the sanctum sanctorum before the official opening.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also in attendance and performed the first puja of the season, praying for the well-being and prosperity of all citizens.
The temple, which attracts lakhs of visitors annually from both within India and abroad, remains inaccessible during winter due to extreme weather conditions.
A new spiritual highlight this season will be the introduction of a grand aarti at the confluence of the Mandakini and Saraswati rivers, echoing the scale and devotion seen in Ganga Aartis performed in Varanasi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh.
“All arrangements have been made for the aarti with ramps erected on three sides of the confluence for devotees to view the scene,” said BKTC CEO Vijay Thapliyal.
