Chamoli: The sacred portals of Badrinath Dham were ceremoniously opened for the summer season on Sunday at 6 AM, marked by traditional Vedic chanting and rituals. Thousands of devotees gathered to witness the auspicious event, heralding the formal commencement of the Char Dham Yatra 2025.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performed the first Mahabhishek Puja in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering prayers for the well-being and prosperity of the nation and the state. He also paid obeisance at various temples within the shrine complex, including the Lakshmi Temple, Ganesh Temple, and Adi Guru Shankaracharya Gaddi.
An estimated 15,000 devotees from across India and abroad were present during the ceremonial opening. Interacting with pilgrims, CM Dhami reviewed the travel arrangements and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring a safe, smooth, and spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience. He urged all visitors to support efforts toward a green and clean Chardham Yatra.
During his visit, the Chief Minister inspected the Badrinath Master Plan progress, receiving updates from Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari. He instructed officials to maintain high construction standards and ensure timely completion of all developmental works around the temple.
He also reviewed preparations for the upcoming Hemkund Sahib Yatra, emphasizing the need for enhanced facilities for pilgrims. CM Dhami assessed the ongoing construction of a bridge over the Alaknanda River at Govindghat and directed the District Magistrate to ensure its quality completion before the pilgrimage begins.
The occasion was also attended by several dignitaries, including Rajya Sabha MP and BJP State President Mahendra Bhatt, Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj, MLA Kishore Upadhyay, BKTC officials Vijay Kaparvan, Rishi Prasad Sati, CEO Vijay Thapliyal, and Dharmadhikari Radhakrishna Thapliyal, among others.
