This year, no ‘Char Dham Yatra’ instead go for online darshan, says tourism department

Published on : Friday, May 14, 2021

In the middle of the rise in Covid cases leading to suspension of the Char Dham Yatra for 2021, on Thursday, Uttarakhand Tourism Minister, Mr. Satpal Maharaj, have declared about online “darshan” of Char Dham shrines namely, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The Devasthanam board authorities have been asked to make essential arrangements for the same.

The Char Dham Yatra was scheduled to kick-start from today with the opening of Yamunotri temple portals in Uttarkashi. On Saturday, the portals of Gangotri will open while Kedarnath and Badrinath portals will open on May 17th and 18th respectively.

Earlier this month, the government of India had suspended the pilgrim yatra until further notice. Even last year, on July 1st, the Char Dham Yatra had started for Uttarakhand people due to the rise in virus cases. According to the estimate of Devsathanam board, more than 3.2 lakh devotees visited Char Dham temples, including Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, among which over 90% visited Badrinath and Kedarnath temples.

To quote the Tourism Minister, “Respecting the sentiments of the devotees at this time of crisis, we are preparing to organise virtual darshan of Char Dham. People will be able to take a glimpse of the gods on a click of their remote. I spoke to the chief minister and he gave permission for the same.”