Char Dham Yatra begins with opening of Gangotri, Yamunotri shrines on Akshaya Tritiya | VIDEO
Dehradun: The Char Dham Yatra commenced on Sunday with the opening of the Gangotri Temple and Yamunotri Temple on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.
Both shrines were adorned with flowers, while authorities put in place extensive security and logistical arrangements for pilgrims.
The ceremonial ‘doli’ processions of Goddess Ganga and Goddess Yamuna began earlier from their winter abodes in Mukhba and Kharsali villages, respectively, amid chants, traditional music and strong participation from devotees, priests and officials.
The idols will be ceremonially installed in the temples following the opening rituals.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended greetings to devotees, announcing the formal start of the Char Dham Yatra 2026.
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He said the state government has made “comprehensive and robust” arrangements to ensure the pilgrimage is safe, well-organised and devotee-friendly.
The Chief Minister also urged pilgrims to follow guidelines and support environmental conservation, particularly by maintaining a plastic-free pilgrimage route.
According to official data, nearly 18.9 lakh pilgrims have registered for the yatra so far. Kedarnath Temple has received the highest registrations at 6.5 lakh, followed by Badrinath Temple (5.5 lakh), Gangotri (3.3 lakh) and Yamunotri (3.2 lakh).
The remaining shrines will open in the coming days, with Kedarnath scheduled for April 22 and Badrinath on April 23.
Earlier, Dhami flagged off the pilgrimage from the Char Dham Yatra Transit Camp in Rishikesh, interacting with devotees and wishing them a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey.
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Given the cold weather conditions in the Himalayan region, additional facilities have been arranged across all four shrines.
The Char Dham Yatra, one of the most significant pilgrimages in Hinduism, traditionally begins from Haridwar or Rishikesh and covers Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, attracting lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad each year.
IANS