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The Char Dham Yatra commenced with the ceremonial opening of the portals of Yamunotri, Gangotri and Kedarnath Dham on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya in the Garhwal Himalayas. The shrines, adorned with flowers, witnessed a large influx of devotees as Vedic chants marked the beginning of the annual pilgrimage.
The Gangotri Dham portal opened first at 12:15 pm, followed by Yamunotri Dham at 12:35 pm, with chants of “Jai Maa Ganga” and “Jai Maa Yamuna” echoing across the temple परिसर. Rituals were conducted as per traditional practices to maintain sanctity, with thousands of pilgrims present at the ceremonies.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the opening at Gangotri and emphasised the importance of ensuring a safe and well-organised yatra. The administration has put in place extensive arrangements for crowd management, health services and infrastructure to facilitate a smooth pilgrimage experience.