The keenly-awaited Char Dham Yatra for 2019 in Uttarakhand kicked off yesterday. The portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri, two of the four dhams, the holiest of all sites in Hinduism, were opened to pilgrims on Tuesday on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. Elaborate rituals, including chanting of hymns, took place as doors to the two sites opened at 11:30 AM and 1:15 PM respectively.
Idols of both the presiding deities, Ganga and Yamuna, were carried from their winter abodes, Mukhba and Kharsali for the ceremony. With the opening of both the sites, the Char Dham Yatra also began; the said yatra starts from Yamunotri, and then moves on to Kedarnath and Badrinath. Next, in line, doors of Kedarnath would be opened on May 9, and Badrinath on May 10. It has been reported that there is still some snow at the Kedarnath Temple, and efforts are on to clear it soon.
The Char Dham Yatra is one of the largest congregations of pilgrims in the world, and attracts lakhs of visitors every year. So much so that it adds a good percentage of revenue to the state economy of Uttarakhand, also providing employment to a good number of natives in the rather far-flung regions. The government has taken a good number of measures to make the pilgrimage easier and hassle-free, with overnight stay facilities on the route. Loudspeakers have also been installed across the route for any urgent announcements and in case of emergencies.