The date for opening the doors of the holy Kedarnath temple has been fixed on Mahashivratri, and the auspicious occasion will see the doors of Baba Kedar open for devotees on April 25, 2023. The announcement was made after the Acharyas of the temple committee performed the necessary rituals and calculations to determine the date.
The Kedarnath temple, located in the picturesque Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, is one of the four dhams, which along with Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, form the famous Chardham Yatra. In 2022, the yatra saw a record-breaking footfall of over 46 lakh devotees, a significant increase from the previous year, which was hampered by restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Kedarnath temple, situated at a height of 11,755 feet, is considered one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to have been built by the Pandavas during the time of the Mahabharata. The temple is surrounded by breathtaking mountain ranges and is accessible via a trek of around 16 km from Gaurikund.
In preparation for the upcoming Kedarnath yatra, the Omkareshwar temple, which is the seat of the Kedarnath temple committee, performed Mahabhishek Puja and other religious rituals. Aarti of Lord Kedarnath was also performed, and a bhog was offered to the deity.
The temple committee has also made arrangements for bhajan-kirtan and special worship sessions for devotees, which will begin at 8 pm on the day of the opening of the doors. The temple and the Panchkedar Gaddisthal have been beautifully decorated with eight quintals of marigold flowers to welcome the devotees.
The announcement of the date for the opening of the Kedarnath temple doors was followed by the announcement of the opening of the Badrinath temple doors on April 27, 2023, at 7:10 am. The Badrinath temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is also located in Uttarakhand and is a part of the Chardham Yatra.
With the dates for the opening of the doors of Kedarnath and Badrinath temples announced, devotees from across the country and beyond are eagerly looking forward to embarking on the holy pilgrimage and seeking the blessings of the divine.
the date for opening the doors of Kedarnath temple has been fixed on Mahashivratri, and devotees can visit the holy shrine on April 25, 2023. The temple committee has made elaborate arrangements to ensure the comfort and safety of the devotees during the yatra. The announcement of the dates for the Chardham Yatra is expected to boost tourism in the region and provide a much-needed boost to the local economy.