With the State Government temporarily halting the pilgrimage to Kedarnath till July 26, numerous devotees of lord Shiva are disappointed at being deprived of the opportunity to pay obeisance at the Kedarnath shrine during the month of Shravan.
Kanwadias from various Indian States visit Uttarakhand during the Shravan month and many of them generally also visit the Kedarnath temple along with other Shiva devotees to offer their prayers here during the auspicious month.
However, this year, with the pilgrimage to Kedarnath being suspended temporarily till July 26, the devotees of Shiva are either turning back without visiting Kedarnath or waiting anxiously at Sonprayag for the pilgrimage to be resumed. Generally, during the month of Shravan, the number of Shiva devotees visiting Kedarnath registers an increase.
However, the damage wreaked by the June 2013 disaster and inclement weather at present is preventing this trend from being repeated this year. The start of the Shravan month this year did register a rise in the number of Shiva devotees visiting Kedarnath inspite of warning issued periodically by the State Meteorological centre. However, the Shiva devotees are presently disappointed with the pilgrimage being temporarily halted by the State government.
Among those waiting at Sonprayag for the pilgrimage to resume, some of the Kanwadias have turned back disappointed while some others are waiting for the chance to visit Kedarnath.