The first batch of devotees embarked on their journey from Haridwar on Tuesday morning, marking the start of the Char Dham Yatra, set to begin on April 30.
The portals of the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams are scheduled to open on Wednesday, followed by Kedarnath Dham on May 2 and Badrinath Dham on May 4.
Devotees were filled with excitement as they set off for the pilgrimage. Sunita Pandey, a devotee, shared her enthusiasm, saying, "We are going for the Char Dham Yatra, it's a very good feeling. We are starting from Haridwar today. We are all very excited. I hope our yatra will be safe. The government has made good arrangements here."
Ajay Kumar, another devotee, praised the government's arrangements, expressing satisfaction with the facilities. "We came to Haridwar, and the arrangements here are very good. We did not face any problem in registration, etc., and everything went well. The facilities of hotels, etc., are also good here, and every arrangement is good here," he told ANI.
Sharmila Gupta, who traveled from Surat, shared her gratitude and devotion. "This is the first stop and we are happy that we are going on the Char Dham Yatra. All the facilities are good and we just want to have a good darshan and return safely. There is a very good feeling in the mind, and I do not want to ask anything from God, he has given everything to me, just getting to see him is enough," she said.
Meanwhile, preparations for the opening of the Kedarnath Temple for the 2025 Char Dham Yatra are well underway. On Monday, as part of the ceremonial rituals, the Panchmukhi (five-faced) idol of Lord Kedarnath was sent off to the shrine.
A special worship ceremony was held at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, Uttarakhand. After the traditional Panch-Snan (fivefold ceremonial bath) and decoration, the idol was placed on a decorated palanquin (doli).
Residents and schoolchildren lined the streets to greet the doli with devotion. The idol's journey will see it rest at its first stop, the Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi, for the night.