Dehradun: The sacred pilgrimage to Kedarnath Dham has witnessed an unprecedented surge in devotees this year, with over 16.56 lakh pilgrims paying their respects at the revered temple. This remarkable figure surpasses previous records and highlights the enduring spiritual significance of the Chardham Yatra.
Despite facing disruptions due to natural disasters during the monsoon season in Uttarakhand, the Chardham Yatra has demonstrated resilience, resuming its pace even amidst challenging weather conditions, including snowfall and persistent adverse conditions.
Official data reveals that the Kedarnath Yatra alone has set a new record this year, with the number of pilgrims exceeding 16.56 lakh. This is approximately 4,000 more than the previous year, with still 14 days left until the temple’s doors close for the season.
On a single day recently, approximately 19,731 pilgrims visited the Chardham shrines and Hemkund Sahib. Specifically, the Badrinath temple saw 5,042 visitors, Kedarnath temple recorded 5,614, Gangotri shrine welcomed 6,217, and Yamunotri shrine had 2,360 pilgrims. Additionally, 498 devotees reached Hemkund Sahib.
The Yatra had experienced a slowdown following the Dharali disaster on August 5th, compounded by heavy rainfall and natural calamities. Several other incidents in Dharali, Sayanachatti, and Tharali within a 20-day period had threatened to derail the pilgrimage. Furthermore, the Yatra was suspended for four days in early September due to severe weather warnings.
However, following September 5th, the pilgrimage gradually picked up momentum. By September 10th, approximately 8,000 pilgrims were visiting the shrines daily. Before the Dharali disaster on August 4th, a significant 41.61 lakh pilgrims had already completed the Chardham Yatra. With the current surge, the total number of pilgrims for the season has now reached 47.39 lakh, and experts anticipate this figure could climb to 50 lakh as the Yatra continues.
The conclusion of the Chardham Yatra is marked by the closing of temple doors on specific dates: Kedarnath and Yamunotri on October 23rd, Gangotri Dham on October 22nd (the day after Diwali), and Badrinath Dham on November 25th.
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