By Our Staff Reporter
Rudraprayag, 7 May: Amid chants and cheering by thousands of devotees, Baba Kedar’s Dev Doli procession on foot reached Phata (District Rudraprayag), today, for the second night stay. Yesterday, the Dev Doli had its first halt at Guptkashi from where it left for Phata this morning. On reaching Phata, the local people gave a grand welcome to the Dev Doli with flowers. Tomorrow morning, the Doli will leave for its next night halt at Gaurikund. This morning, the Aarti was performed after grandly decorating the Panchmukhi Chal Vigraha Utsav Doli of Baba Kedar. The Doli left for Phata from Guptkashi in the morning. At 2 o’clock in the afternoon the palanquin reached Phata amidst the cheers of thousands of devotees.
More than a thousand devotees are accompanying Lord Kedarnath’s Doli Yatra. Doli and devotees are being given grand welcomes at various places. The Doli will reach Kedarnath on the evening of 9 May. The portals of Lord Kedarnath are due to open on the morning of 10 May for the summer season.
Meanwhile, the Dev Utsav Doli of Lord Tunganath, also known as the Third Kedar of the Panch Kedar, also left its winter seat Markateswar Teerth at Makkumath. When the Doli left for Kailash, the women led the procession with Mangal songs and rendering of Shankar’s bhajans. On reaching a place called Pudkhi, the devotees offered new grains and prayed for world peace and prosperity.
