Sat May 03 01:48:58 UTC 2025: ## Kedarnath Temple Opens to Thousands of Pilgrims
**Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, May 3, 2025** – The sacred Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand opened its doors to pilgrims on May 2nd, 2025, drawing over 12,000 devotees to the auspicious ceremony. Located at over 11,000 feet, the temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and considered one of the four Char Dham temples, was adorned with 108 quintals of flowers from countries including Nepal, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
The opening ceremony, which began at 5 a.m., included prayers led by religious leaders and officials, including Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who performed the first puja. The temple, the third in the Char Dham circuit to open after the winter closure (following Gangotri and Yamunotri), will remain open until the onset of winter. Badrinath temple is scheduled to open on May 4th.
This year, pilgrims will experience a new addition: a grand “aarti” ceremony, similar to those held in Varanasi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh, will be performed at the confluence of the Mandakini and Saraswati rivers near the temple. Special viewing ramps have been erected for devotees to witness the event. The temple, which attracts lakhs of visitors annually, was closed during the winter months.
First Piper 