Char Dham Yatra to begin from today

The Char Dham yatra will start on Wednesday as portals of revered Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines will be thrown open to public in the afternoon amid the blowing of conch shells and beating of drums. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to turn up at the two shrines to get the first glimpse of the deities on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya.
Following tradition, the palanquin of Ganga left Mukha village, the winter abode of the deity, for Gangotri dham on Tuesday.

Rajnikant Semwal, a priest at Gangotri shrine, said that the palanquin will take a night halt at Bhairav Ghati, 8 km from Gangotri. “The distance between Gangotri and Mukhba is around 20 km. The palanquin is expected to reach the shrine on Wednesday morning,” he said.

While the gates of Gangotri shrine will open at 1.15pm on Wednesday, the portals of Yamunotri dham will open at 12.15pm.