The first-ever Republic Day celebration was held at Kedarnath on Monday with the team from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) hoisting the Tricolour and singing the national anthem in the Mandakini valley, which was hit by disaster in 2013. It should be mentioned that till last year, the Kedarnath township located at an altitude of 11,755 feet above sea level in Rudraprayag district, would remain deserted in January with snow covering the area following closure of the shrine to the public for the winters.
However, with the NIM team stationed at Kedarnath for undertaking repair and reconstruction works here, the 66th Republic Day saw the national tricolour being unfurled at this high altitude pilgrimage destination amid light snowfall. The national flag was hoisted at a newly constructed helipad. The Governor of Uttarakhand Dr KK Paul had visited Kedarnath last week and presented NIM staff with packets of sweets which were distributed on Republic Day.
The NIM principal Colonel Ajay Kothiyal said, “Uttarakhand’s tableau in the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi this year depicted Kedarnath. This has given us much pride as we are involved in the reconstruction works at Kedarnath,” he said. The Republic Day celebrations in Kedarnath ended with a feast in which the NIM team enjoyed pulao, puri, halwa, kheer and other vegetarian dishes.