Kedarnath Dham to reopen for devotees on April 22

NEW DELHI: The sacred Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand will reopen its doors to devotees on April 22, marking the end of its nearly six-month winter closure, a temple committee official said on Sunday.The auspicious date and timing were finalised on the occasion of Mahashivratri at the shrine’s winter seat.

Muhurat decided on Mahashivratri

Harish Gaur, public relations officer of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, said the reopening date was determined at the Omkareshwar Temple, where Lord Kedarnath is worshipped during the winter months.Following special rituals and prayers, religious scholars and priests calculated the muhurat using panchang (Hindu calendar) readings. The temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, will open at 8 am on April 22.The ceremony at Omkareshwar Temple was marked by elaborate decorations, including around nine and a half quintals of flowers.Among those present were Kedarnath Temple’s chief priest Rawal Bhimashankar Ling, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, Temple Committee chairman Hemant Dwivedi, other officials, religious leaders and hundreds of devotees, according to news agency ANI.Devotees offered prayers, chanted “Jai Baba Kedar” and participated in community feasts organised by donors.

Char Dham Yatra schedule announced

With the reopening date confirmed, the schedule for the annual Char Dham Yatra in the Garhwal Himalayas has also been finalised.The doors of Badrinath Temple will reopen on April 23. Meanwhile, Gangotri Temple and Yamunotri Temple will open earlier on April 19, coinciding with the festival of Akshaya Tritiya.The reopening of these shrines marks the beginning of the annual pilgrimage season, drawing lakhs of devotees to the Himalayan temples each year.