Dehradun: On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, the portals of Shri Yamunotri Dham and Shri Gangotri Dham will open on Sunday, marking the beginning of the annual Char Dham Yatra. The temples have been beautifully decorated with flowers, and extensive security arrangements have been made. After special prayers and rituals, the palanquin (doli) of Goddess Ganga has departed from her winter residence in Mukhba village. There is great enthusiasm and devotion among locals and pilgrims. Similarly, the palanquin of Goddess Yamuna has also departed from Kharsali village.
The village echoed with chants of “Jai Maa Gange,” accompanied by traditional musical instruments like dhol, damau, and ransingha. A large number of devotees, priests, saints, and officials participated in the procession, reflecting deep faith and unity. The idols will be installed in the Yamunotri and Gangotri temples on Sunday.
CM Dhami posted on social media that on the sacred occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, the doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri are being opened with full rituals, marking the beginning of Char Dham Yatra 2026. He said the state government has ensured comprehensive preparations to make the pilgrimage safe, well-organized, and pilgrim-friendly.
He prayed to Goddess Ganga and Yamuna to bless everyone with happiness, prosperity, and progress. In another message, he welcomed all devotees to Uttarakhand and urged them to follow rules and help make the pilgrimage plastic-free.
Meanwhile, Kedarnath Dham will open on April 22, followed by Badrinath Dham on April 23.
By Saturday evening, 1.89 million pilgrims had registered online for the journey—Kedarnath (650,000), Badrinath (550,000), Gangotri (330,000), and Yamunotri (320,000).
On Saturday, CM Dhami flagged off the Yatra from the transit camp in Rishikesh, marking the formal beginning of one of the most sacred pilgrimages in Sanatan Dharma. He interacted with devotees and wished them a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey.
Special arrangements have been made considering the cold weather in the mountainous regions. The Char Dham Yatra traditionally starts from Haridwar or Rishikesh and proceeds through Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Kedarnath before ending at Badrinath.
