Kedarnath Yatra Begins, Draws 30,000 Pilgrims on Day One

Fast Summary:

• event: Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand officially opened it’s doors for pilgrims on May 2, 2025, marking the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra.
• Attendance: Over 30,000 devotees visited Kedarnath on the first day-official statistics include 19,196 men, 10,597 women, and 361 others by evening.
• Opening ceremony:

– Attended by more than 12,000 pilgrims.
– featured devotional music by the Indian Army’s Garhwal Rifles band.
– Uttarakhand Chief Minister pushkar Singh Dhami distributed prasad during a ceremony at mukhya Sevak Bhandara held at the temple.

• Announcement: CM Dhami declared that Badrinath Temple will open for pilgrims on May 4. He emphasized preparedness and highlighted improvements including facilities along yatra routes and safety measures for visitors.
• Infrastructure Updates:

– Rs. 2,000 crore allocated for Kedarnath reconstruction projects.
– Central government approved a ropeway from Gaurikund to Kedarnath to ease access for pilgrims.
– Promises made to enable year-round pilgrimages through winter visits to Char Dhams.

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