Amid chants of “Jai Baba Kedar”, the Panchmukhi Doli of Lord Kedarnath reached Shri Kedarnath Dham on Thursday, as devotees prepared with fervent devotion for the official opening of the temple gates on May 2 at 7:00 AM.
The arrival of the Doli from Gaurikund to Kedarnath marked a deeply spiritual moment for thousands gathered in the Kedar valley. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in a heartfelt post on X, described the procession as filled with “reverence, faith, and devotion.”
“The holy Doli of Baba Kedarnath reached the temple premises amidst devotional chants. The entire Dham echoed with ‘Jai Baba Kedar,’ creating a divine atmosphere,” Dhami shared.
Pilgrims arriving early at Kedarnath shared emotional experiences as they took in the scenic snow-capped peaks and praised the arrangements made by the state government.
- Sunny Kumar from Bangalore lauded the cleanliness and crowd management.
- Shubham from Mathura highlighted the availability of water and essential facilities.
- Vikas, a regular visitor from Uttar Pradesh, commended the Bhandara arrangements.
- Mukesh Kumar from Noida expressed appreciation for security enhancements in the temple complex.
- Dilkush from Rajasthan praised infrastructure development, urging more people to visit.
- Rahul from Agra, a seven-time pilgrim, said the arrangements “improve every year.”
Superintendent of Police Akshay Prahlad Konde assured that security is a top priority, stating,
“Proper forces have been deployed for security and crowd management. The scale of this yatra demands constant vigilance.”
As part of the grand preparations, 13 quintals of flowers have been used to decorate the temple for the opening ceremony.
CEO of the Badri Kedar Temple Committee, Vilay Thapliyal, confirmed that all rituals and logistical arrangements are in place for the grand reopening.
For those seeking a faster route, the helicopter service for the Kedarnath Dham Yatra 2025 began from Sonprayag.
Pawan Rana, a helicopter operator, noted:
“We operate 20–30 daily shuttles, serving around 150 pilgrims. Online booking is available via IRCTC; offline through the District or Sector Magistrate.”
The Char Dham Yatra 2025 officially commenced on April 30, with Gangotri and Yamunotri temples opening on Akshaya Tritiya. Devotees were welcomed with Vedic chants and floral showers from helicopters.
The doors of Shri Badrinath Temple are scheduled to open on May 4, completing the start of the annual pilgrimage circuit. As of now, over 22 lakh pilgrims have registered at the Rishikesh Transit Camp for the sacred Char Dham journey.