Dehradun, 22 April (H.S.):

The sacred portals of Baba Kedarnath, the 11th Jyotirlinga revered by millions, opened today amid Vedic incantations and age-old rituals, with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performing the inaugural puja on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Char Dham Yatra Dawns with Devotee Fervor

Dhami hailed Modi's profound devotion driving rapid Char Dham development, extending blessings and invitations to global pilgrims as crowds swelled the temple precincts from dawn. The 8th Sikh Light Regiment band and damru echoes sanctified the air, heralding Uttarakhand's anticipated influx of lakhs.

Attendees included BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi, Head Priest T. Gangadhar Ling, Kedar Sabha President Rajkumar Tiwari, BKTC CEO Vishal Mishra, SP Niharika Tomar, and priests Umesh Posti and Dr. Vineet Posti.

Nestled at Mandakini's source between Meru-Sumeru foothills on Kedar Singh peak, this Panch Kedar pinnacle open summers, wintering at Ukhimath's Omkareshwar bears Pandavas' Dvapara-era redemption tale: Shiva's bull form revealed, triangular lingam enshrined.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar