(Tribune)
The annual Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand began today with the reopening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri temples in the Garhwal Himalayas amid chanting of vedic hymns after nearly a six-month winter break. Thousands of pilgrims thronged the two Himalayan shrines to witness the elaborate ceremonies which preceded their simultaneous reopening at 12.15 pm on the occasion of ‘Akshaya Tritiya’. After prayers were offered by priests and ‘Purohits’ in the Gangotri, former Chief Minister and Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Gangotri MLA Gopal Rawat formally declared the annual yatra open in the presence of Uttarkashi SP Dadan Pal Singh.
Thousands of pilgrims turned up at the temples to pay obeisance to Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna to whom the two shrines are dedicated.The palanquin carrying the idol of Goddess Ganga departed from her winter abode at Mukhba yesterday and reached the Gangotri temple at 9 am this morning after making a night halt at the Bhairav temple, Gangotri temple committee chairman Mukesh Semwal said.
