On the occasion of Akshay Tritiya, the revered portals of Kedarnath Dham, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, were flung open to devotees, marking the commencement of the pilgrimage season. The ceremonial opening of the temple, which had remained closed during the winter months, was attended by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkhar Singh Dhami, alongside a multitude of pilgrims from across the country.
The opening of Kedarnath Dham was accompanied by the commencement of the pilgrimage season at other revered shrines as well. The gates of Yamunotri temple, the divine source of the Yamuna river, were opened to devotees, while the doors of Gangotri temple were scheduled to unlock at 12.20 pm. Furthermore, the highly anticipated opening of Badrinath Dham, hailed as Vaikuntha on Earth, is slated for 6 am on May 12, heralding the arrival of countless pilgrims seeking blessings and spiritual solace.