Good news for devotees of Bholenath! The opening date and time of the world-famous eleventh Jyotirlinga, Shri Kedarnath Dham, has been fixed for the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. The doors will be opened on May 2nd at 7:00 AM, during the Vrisha Lagna, with all the prescribed rituals, allowing devotees to have darshan of Baba Kedarnath.
Rudraprayag: The doors of Shri Kedarnath Dham will be ceremonially opened this year on May 2nd at 7:00 AM, coinciding with Vaishakh month, Mithun rashi, and Vrisha Lagna. The Puja of Lord Bhairavnath will be held on April 27th, and Baba Kedarnath's Panchmukhi Doli (palanquin) will depart from Shri Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, for Kedarnath Dham on April 28th. This date was determined after the Panjika (Hindu calendar) calculations at the Shri Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, on the sacred day of Mahashivratri.
Panjika Calculations at Ukhimath
A grand celebration is held at the Shri Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, on Mahashivratri, attracting a large gathering of devotees. The temple is adorned with floral decorations, and devotees engage in devotional singing and chanting, creating a pious atmosphere. After the Panjika calculations, religious priests and Vedic scholars perform the prescribed rituals and announce the opening date. Rawal Bhimashakar Ling of Shri Kedarnath Dham, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, officials from the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) Vijay Prasad Thapliyal, and officials from the Panchagari Committee were present on this auspicious occasion.
Schedule for the Journey of Lord Kedarnath's Panchmukhi Doli
Before the opening of Shri Kedarnath Dham, the traditional journey of Lord Kedarnath's Panchmukhi Doli will proceed through various locations to reach Kedarnath Dham. The schedule is as follows:
* April 27th – Puja and offerings to Lord Bhairavnath will be performed.
* April 28th – The Panchmukhi Doli will commence its journey from Shri Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, and reach Shri Vishwanath Temple, Guptakashi, as its first destination.
* April 29th – The Doli will reach its second destination, Fata.
* April 30th – The Doli will reach its third destination, Gaurikund.
* May 1st – Arrival of the Panchmukhi Doli at Shri Kedarnath Dham.
* May 2nd – At 7:00 AM, the doors of Shri Kedarnath Dham will be opened, commencing the darshan for devotees.
Intense Preparations for Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra
Following the announcement of the opening date of Lord Kedarnath's doors, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee and the administration have begun preparations for the pilgrimage. Special arrangements are being made for the safety, transportation, medical facilities, and accommodation of pilgrims. Hundreds of devotees participated in the Mahashivratri celebrations at Ukhimath, singing devotional songs in praise of Bholenath. The announcement of Baba Kedarnath's door opening date, after the Prasad distribution and special Puja, was met with great enthusiasm among the devotees.
