*The doors of the eleventh Jyotirlinga, Shri Kedarnath, a wonderful confluence of faith, belief, and divinity, opened with due rituals*
*Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also witnessed the divine moment of the opening of the doors. The city of Baba Kedar rejoiced with chants of Har Har Mahadev and Jai Shri Kedar*
The doors of the eleventh Jyotirlinga, Shri Kedarnath Dham, a wonderful confluence of faith, belief, and divinity, were opened for devotees on Wednesday with due rituals and Vedic chanting. As the doors opened at 8 am in the auspicious time, the entire shrine reverberated with chants of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Jai Shri Kedar.” The first puja at the shrine was performed in the name of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present on this auspicious occasion and, after paying obeisance to Baba Kedarnath, prayed for happiness, prosperity, and peace for the state and the country. The divine moment of the opening of the doors was made even more divine by the devotional tunes of the Sikh Regiment band. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, extending his best wishes to all the countrymen, said that Kedarnath Dham is not only a major center of faith for followers of Sanatan Dharma, but also a symbol of India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage. He said that the Chardham Yatra is setting new records every year, and this year too, with the blessings of Baba Kedar, the Yatra will be historic.
Chief Minister’s Appeal*
He said that the state government has made extensive arrangements to ensure a safe, well-organized, and smooth Chardham Yatra. He called upon all Uttarakhand residents to maintain a spirit of service and hospitality towards the devotees coming from India and abroad.
Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi an ardent devotee of Baba Kedarnath, the Chief Minister said that under his guidance, Kedarnath Dham has been reconstructed in a grand and divine manner after the 2013 disaster, and today it is attracting devotees from all over the world.
*Baba Kedarnath’s shrine decorated with flowers*
Lord Kedarnath’s Panchmukhi Utsav Doli arrived at the shrine yesterday evening from the winter seat of Shri Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, via Guptkashi, Phata, and Gaurikund. The opening of the doors began at 5 a.m. today. At 8 a.m., Rawal Bhimashankar Ling, priest T. Gangadhar, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, pilgrim priest Umesh Chandra Posti, along with religious leaders and Veda readers, entered the sanctum sanctorum and performed the ritualistic worship. The doors were opened for devotees at exactly 8 a.m., with the invocation of the gods and a pledge for public welfare. The Kedarnath temple was lavishly decorated with over 51 quintals of flowers for the opening of the doors. As soon as the doors opened, a flower shower was showered from a helicopter, leaving the devotees overwhelmed.
*These were present*
On the occasion of the opening of the doors, Geeta Dhami, BKTC President Hemant Dwivedi, MLA Kedarnath Asha Nautiyal, District Panchayat President Rudraprayag Poonam Kathayat, Block Head Ukhimath Pankaj Shukla, District Panchayat Member Amit Maikhandi, former District President Mahavir Panwar, Pilgrim Priest Umesh Chandra Posti, District Magistrate Rudraprayag/Chief Executive Officer BKTC Vishal Mishra, Superintendent of Police Neeharika Tomar, along with a large number of pilgrim priests, right holders and a large number of devotees were present.