The process of the reopening of the Char Dham shrines began on Friday with the reopening of Yamunotri shrine in Uttarkashi district on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya on Friday. The portals of the shrine were reopened at 12:15 PM with only a limited number of priests present on the occasion due to Covid guidelines. The usual crowd of devotees was absent as the state government has postponed the Char Dham Yatra this year due to the ongoing surge in Covid cases.
Earlier, the Doli (procession) of goddess Yamuna started at her winter abode of Kharsali on Friday morning. The younger brother of the goddess, Shani also reached Yamunotri to send her off to her summer abode.
Chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat greeted devotees across the nation and abroad on the reopening of the Yamunotri shrine. He said that in view of the Covid pandemic, the devotees should offer their prayers from home. In Yamunotri a limited number of priests and officials of the district administration were present on the occasion. Meanwhile, the doli of goddess Ganga also departed from her winter abode of Mukhba for Gangotri. The procession which reached Bhairavghati on Friday will reach Gangotri on Saturday morning in time for reopening of the shrine at 7:31 AM.
