It’s for the second consecutive year that COVID has solid a shadow on the pilgrimage to the temple which has been saved out of bounds for pilgrims in view of rising coronavirus cases.
The portals of Kedarnath opened on Monday after a six-month winter break with a select few people attending the temple’s opening ceremony amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first puja was held by priests on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi because the gates of the well-known Himalayan temple were opened at 5 am, a Chardham Devasthanam Board official stated.
It’s for the second consecutive year that COVID has solid a shadow on the pilgrimage to the temple which has been kept out of bounds for pilgrims in view of rising coronavirus instances.
A limited variety of temple monks, together with Rawal Bhim Shankar Ling and Chief Priest Bagesh Ling, and officers of the administration and Devasthanam Board attended the ceremony. Expressing happiness on the opening of the temple, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat prayed for the welfare and good health of the people.
The yatra to the temple is briefly suspended for the sake of people’s safety, Rawat said, asking individuals to have digital “darshan” of Baba Kedar and carry out puja at home. Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj stated Chardham Yatra can be started soon after the coronavirus pandemic subsides.
The temple was adorned with eleven quintals of flowers on the event, the Devasthan Board officers said. COVID norms like carrying masks and social distancing have been strictly followed by these attending the occasion, he stated.
Whereas Yamunotri and Gangotri temples have been opened on Might 14 and Might 15 respectively, Badrinath will open on Tuesday for the monks to carry out common prayers. However, no pilgrims can be allowed to go to any of those temples until additional orders in view of the COVID surge.
