The State Government has decided to facilitate continuation of the Char Dham yatra during the winters also from this year. The pilgrimage to the temples where the presiding deities of the Char Dham shrines are worshiped was so far restricted to the summer.
The Char Dham shrines used to remain closed to the public during the winters. Those opposed to the Government’s decision state that the inadequate arrangements along the Yatra route make this plan questionable.
It should be noted that the portals of Kedarnath shrine used to be closed to the public for the winters on October 25 after the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines are closed on October 23 and 24 , respectively. The portals of Badrinath shrine was to be closed to the public later on November 27 which would have marked the end of the Char Dham Yatra.
With the closing of the Char Dham shrines, the Yatra circuit becomes less crowded with many traders catering to the pilgrims also shutting shop and leaving for home. However, this year the Government has decided to continue the Yatra by facilitating pilgrimage to the shrines where the presiding deities of the Char Dham shrines are ritually worshipped during the winters.
While the Char Dham shrines remain closed to the public, lord Kedarnath is ceremoniously worshipped at Omkareshwar in Ukhimath, lord Badrinath is worshiped at the Yogdhyan temple in Pandukeshwar, goddess Gangotri is worshiped at Mukhba, Goddess Yamunotri at Kharsali. The Government intends to facilitate pilgrimage to these shrines during the winters in order to continue the Char Dham pilgrimage.
It is hoped that continuation of the pilgrimage during the winters would improve the State’s economy and the financial condition of those dependent on pilgrimage and related activities for employment at a time when the State is still suffering from the economic and infrastructural impacts of the June 2013 disaster.
This is not the first attempt at continuing the Char Dham Yatra during the winters as in the past the BJP-led State Government had also tried to do this. However, at that time the winter Yatra could continue only for some days.
The question being asked is whether the State Government is prepared and has made the necessary arrangements to facilitate the Yatra for six months of winter.
During the winters, many parts of the State become inaccessible or hard to access with heavy snowfall blocking various roads to traffic. Skeptics doubt whether the Government is sure of being able to ensure facilities to make the winter pilgrimage a convenient and safe experience for the visitors. Time will tell whether the winter Yatra can be sustained.