Portals of Yamunotri, Gangotri to open today

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 17

All preparations are complete for the first leg of the Char Dham yatra commencing on Wednesday with the opening up of portals of Himalayan shrines of Yamunotri and Gangotri.

The palanquin carrying the idols of Ma Yamuna will begin its journey at 9.15 am from its winter abode in Kharsali. From there it will proceed towards Yamunotri dham and at 12.15 am the portals of the temple would be open for the devotees for darshan.

Similarly, the portals of Gangotri dham will also open at 1.15 pm. The district administration of Uttarkashi has made elaborate arrangements for the yatra. “We will dedicate a meditation centre in the form of a glass house to the public on April 25, when it will be formally inaugurated in Gangotri,” said Bageshwar Semwal, secretary of Gangotri Temple committee.

He said more than 20 pilgrims would be able to meditate in the glass house. The glass house will also house a small library that would have books shedding light on the history of the two temples. The glass house which is in the final stages of completion has been made by the rural engineering service.