By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
RUDRAPRAYAG, 6 Sep: With the weather clearing across Rudraprayag district, including Kedarnath Dham, the Char Dham Yatra resumed on Saturday after a gap of several days. The resumption of the Yatra has brought much relief and joy to thousands of devotees who had been waiting for past several days for the Yatra to resume. The pilgrims who had been stranded in Sonprayag for several days were finally allowed to proceed towards Kedarnath Dham for darshan. The snow-clad peaks of Kedarnath resonated with devotional fervour, as exuberant pilgrims witnessed the pristine white scenery. Meanwhile, reports from district Chamoli also shared that the pilgrimage to Badrinath Dham has also resumed with effect from Saturday
The improvement in weather since Saturday morning enabled the reopening of the Kedarnath route, which had remained closed since September 1 owing to incessant rains and landslides. With the walking track and the shrine now accessible, thousands of devotees from Sonprayag and Gaurikund were permitted to move forward towards the temple. It may be recalled that the state government had earlier suspended the pilgrimage as a precautionary measure in view of the hazardous conditions caused by heavy rainfall.
Registration for the Char Dham Yatra, which was put on hold since September 1, also resumed on Saturday. During the suspension, pilgrims already on the route were verbally permitted to continue towards Badrinath and Kedarnath. With the official registration restarted by the state government and the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Management Committee, the flow of pilgrims has once again gathered pace.
Priests at Kedarnath temple on Saturday stated that the weather has cleared and that the devotees are experiencing unhindered darshan of Baba Kedar. People from different parts of the country had been expressing a strong desire to visit the Dham, though their movement had earlier been impeded by the adverse weather. With the conditions now improving, a significant increase in the influx of pilgrims is anticipated.
The locals also shared that the hills surrounding the Kedarnath Dham are now blanketed in snow, a sight that has greatly pleased the visiting devotees. Due to snowfall, the cold has become more intense during morning and evening hours, prompting the Nagar Panchayat Kedarnath to arrange bonfires for the comfort of the pilgrims.
Vice Chairman of the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, Vijay Kaparwan, said that although a large number of devotees were eager to undertake the Kedarnath pilgrimage, intermittent spells of inclement weather had necessitated temporary suspensions in the interest of safety. He assured that arrangements on the Gaurikund–Kedarnath walking route are now adequate, with all facilities for the pilgrims in place. He also informed that the Temple Committee would soon operationalise the Dhyan Gufa (meditation cave) at Kedarnath Dham, thereby providing devotees with an enhanced spiritual experience. Committee members say that the district administration is presently taking special care to ensure the safety and comfort of all devotees.
At the same time, the Yatra to Gangotri and Yamunotri remains affected as efforts are underway to restore connectivity to Gangotri and Yamunotri. The Uttarkashi district administration, in coordination with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Public Works Department (PWD), has commenced repair operations on a war footing to make the roads motorable for light vehicles. The Army has been encountering difficulties in transporting rations and essential supplies to residents of border areas. The authorities are hopeful that if the water level of the Bhagirathi river recedes in the days to come, restoration work will move swiftly. The Gangotri highway, however, has suffered severe damage and has been completely washed away at Dharali near Harsil.
