Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand): With the Kedarnath Temple set to reopen its doors on May 10th, the revered Panchmukhi procession, dedicated to Lord Kedarnath, has now moved from Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi to its second halt at Phata.
Departing from Shri Vishwanath Temple Guptkashi at 8:45 am on May 7th, the Panchmukhi procession is en route to Phata, where it will rest before the grand reopening of Shri Kedarnath Dham on Friday, May 10th.
Dr. Harish Gaur, Media Incharge of the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), shared that volunteers and devotees take the Panchmukhi idol of Lord Kedarnath on a barefoot journey from Shri Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath to Shri Kedarnath Dham.
As the procession commenced from Guptkashi, devotees and school children adorned the path with flowers, chanting praises to Baba Kedar. Alongside, hundreds of devotees from various parts of the country and abroad join the Doli Yatra to Kedarnath.
Earlier on May 5th, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually flagged off 300 'Sevadars' participating in the 'Bhandara Program' accompanying the Baba Kedarnath Doli Yatra from Uttarakhand Sadan in Delhi.
Preceding the Char Dham pilgrimage, the Panchmukhi Bhogmurti, a five-faced idol of Lord Hanuman, embarks on its journey from Panchkedar Gaddisthal Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, and traverses through Guptkashi via Fata and Gaurikund to reach Shri Kedarnath Dham.
On the auspicious day of the temple reopening, nationally renowned bhajan singers will enthrall devotees with performances from a decorated stage in the temple courtyard.