Char Dham Yatra Commences With Opening Of Gangotri And Yamunotri Temples

The much-awaited Char Dham Yatra officially began on Wednesday with the ceremonial opening of the portals of the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham temples in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand.

This further marks the start of a spiritually significant journey to four revered Himalayan shrines, central to the Hindu faith.

The pilgrimage began with the ceremonial send-off of the Goddess Ganga’s palanquin from her winter abode in Mukba village.

After halting overnight at Bhairav Temple in Bhairavghati, the devotees carried the palanquin to Gangotri Dham, where priests planned to open the temple doors at 10:30 am on Wednesday.

Traditional rituals and Vedic chants accompanied the grand occasion. Tirtha Purohit Rajesh Semwal confirmed the smooth procession and the timely arrival of the palanquin at Gangotri.

Simultaneous Opening At Yamunotri Dham

At the same time, the palanquin of Maa Yamuna began its journey from Kharsali, her winter residence, to Yamunotri Dham early in the morning.

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Priests further scheduled the temple doors to open at 11:55 am to welcome pilgrims to the sacred site.

Chief Minister’s Greetings To Devotees

On this auspicious occasion, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami further extended his heartfelt greetings to all devotees.

Sharing his message on X, he stated, “Today, on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, the doors of Shri Yamunotri Dham and Shri Gangotri Dham will be formally opened for devotees. The Char Dham Yatra 2025 begins today, symbolising a unique confluence of faith, devotion, and the invaluable sentiments of Sanatan culture.”

He further added, “On behalf of the state government, we welcome and greet all devotees embarking on the Char Dham Yatra. We pray that with the blessings of Maa Yamuna and Maa Ganga, the lives of all devotees may be filled with peace and prosperity.”

The Char Dham Yatra will continue with the opening of the Kedarnath Dham portals on Friday, followed by Badrinath Dham’s opening on Sunday.

Earlier this week, priests sent the Panchmukhi idol of Lord Kedarnath from Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath after performing special prayers.

A Sacred Pilgrimage Of Immense Significance

The Char Dham Yatra is one of India’s most sacred pilgrimages, drawing thousands of devotees each year.

The journey follows a clockwise route through Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath—each site holding profound religious significance in Sanatan tradition.

This pilgrimage further continues to inspire devotion and spiritual awakening, offering blessings to those who undertake it.