Dateline Dehradun: It has been two months since the Chardham Yatra was officially announced in Uttarakhand, a total of 40,266 e-passes have been issued and more than 23 thousand pilgrims have visited the four shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
Officially, Chardham Yatra was launched online by the Uttarakhand Chardham Devasthanam Management Board on the 1st of July, 2020. Certain ‘dos and donts’ in place keeping in mind the growing pandemic, like to apply for an e-pass to visit any or all the four shrines, a prerequisite corona negative report or proof of quarantine period and health check-up from a certified lab of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) 72 hours is mandatory.
Commissioner Garhwal and Uttarakhand Chardham Devasthanam Management Board Chief Executive Officer Ravinath Raman informed the media that, “people outside the state are now allowed to visit Chardham with certain conditions in place. Thus far, the Chardham Yatra is yielding good results. Pilgrims are being given entry into temples only after thermal screening, sanitization. Wearing of masks and social distance is mandatory.”
While pilgrims are encouraged not to stay in the shrines unless absolutely necessary, efforts are being made to ensure that pilgrims return to the nearest accommodation post darshan. The state government is leaving no stones unturned to work on a gradual influx of pilgrims to all the four shrines so that tourism and pilgrimage gains momentum.
Additional Chief Executive Officer, BD Singh informed that, “40266 e-passes have been issued by the Devasthanam Board since 1 July to 8 September. Up until last evening i.e. 8th September another 328 E-Pass were released by Uttarakhand Devasthanam Board.”
Media In-charge of Devasthanam Board, Dr. Harish Gaur updated that, “more than 23 thousand pilgrims have arrived in the hill-state for Chardham pilgrimage with the numbers going up continuously.”
Since May 15th to September 4th, 11587 pilgrims have paid their obeisance at Badrinath, followed with 6697 to Kedarnath since 29th April; 3899 to Gangotri since 26th April and 553 pilgrims have visited Yamunotri since 26th April to 4th of September.
To register online, visit: Uttarakhand Devasthanam Management Board website www.badrinath-kedarnath.gov.
