Kedarnath
The Kedarnath pilgrimage for 2024 is scheduled to commence on May 10, as announced by the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) on Friday. This announcement followed the release of the opening dates for the portals of the Kedarnath shrine by the shrine priests, accompanied by traditional rituals.
The BKTC released the shrine calendar for pilgrims on Friday, confirming that the portals of the Kedarnath shrine, also referred to as the 11th jyotirlinga, will open at 7 am on May 10, 2024, marking the beginning of this year’s Chardham pilgrimage season.
Prior to the portal opening, the worship of Lord Bhairavnath at Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath will be conducted on May 5. It is noteworthy that Lord Kedarnath and Bhairavnath are ceremonially seated at the Omkareshwar temple every year following the closure of the Kedarnath portals for the six-month winter period.
Subsequently, on May 6, the Panchmukhi (five-faced) idol of Lord Kedarnath will commence its journey from its panchkedar seat at Omkareshwar Temple, reaching the Kedarnath shrine area on May 9.
BKTC chairman Ajayendra Ajay shared these details on the occasion of Shivratri, informing that the date for opening the Kedarnath shrine portals was determined following traditional rituals performed by the shrine rawal, acharyas, and vedpathis at Omkareshwar Temple. This process was followed by specific rituals and the calculation of the panchanga (Hindu calendar) to finalize the date of opening the Kedarnath temple portals.
Ajay stated that the Panchmukhi idol of Lord Kedarnath would formally depart from Omkareshwar on May 6, making traditional stops at Guptkashi on May 6, Fata on May 7, Gaurikund on May 8, and finally arriving at the Kedarnath Dham on the evening of May 9.
