Char Dham Yatra 2024: The Army Band played beautiful music as the gates of the Badrinath Dham in Uttarakhand opened for worshippers at six a.m. on Sunday. The event was marked by rituals, vedic chants, and the catchphrase “Badri Vishal Lal Ki Jai.” Six months had passed since Badrinath Dham’s gates were opened to devotees.
The Location of Shri Badrinath Dham
In Uttarakhand state’s Chamoli district, amidst snow-capped mountains, sits the shrine of Shri Badrinath Dham. Thousands of worshippers gathered at the flower-decked entrance of Badrinath Dham. Badrinath Temple, devoted to Lord Vishnu, is situated along the banks of the Alaknanda River in the Chamoli district’s Garhwal hill tracks.
Arrival of Kuber Ji, Shri Uddhav Ji, and Gadu Ghada
Kuber Ji, Shri Uddhav Ji, and Gadu Ghada were brought from the south gate into the temple premises in accordance with religious customs. Following this, the chief priest of the temple, Rawal, Dharmadhikari, Haq Hukukdhari, and representatives of the Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee ceremoniously opened the temple’s doors in front of thousands of worshippers and the administration. Wishes for the auspicious day were sent to devotees by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
CM Dhami’s Update on Badrinath Temple Opening
In a post on X, CM Dhami wrote, “Today the doors of Lord Badri Vishal have been opened with vedic chanting and complete rituals. Hearty welcome and greetings to all the devotees in the Char Dham Yatra! Jai Badri Vishal.” In the sanctum sanctorum, chief priest VC Ishwar Prasad Namboodri offered special prayers to Lord Badrinath and prayed for everyone’s wellbeing.
Significance of Badrinath Yatra in Hinduism
In Hinduism, the Badrinath Yatra is a famous pilgrimage that is mostly made by followers of Lord Vishnu. Typically, the Char Dham pilgrimage begins in late April or early May and lasts through November. On May 10, the Char Dham Yatra began in Uttarakhand. All three Dhams—Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri—have been busy for the past two days.
A record-breaking 29,000 pilgrims from India and other countries came to Kedarnath Dham on the first day of the event. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the pilgrims and led the first puja at the Shri Kedarnath Dham temple. He asked for prayers for everyone starting the Char Dham pilgrimage to travel safely and find spiritual fulfillment.