Kedarnath shrine to open as scheduled after priests reject revised date announced by government

In an embarrassment for the state BJP government, the priests of the Hindu shrine of Kedarnath rejected the deferred dates of opening of the portals of the temple and decided to open the temple on April 29.

Interestingly, on Monday, after a meeting between Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, state Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj and erstwhile ruler of Tehri state Manujendra Shah, it was decided that the portals of the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples will open on May 14 and May 15 respectively, due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Uttarakhand Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj had announced the new dates.

However, this was not go down well with the priests of Kedarnath temple. At a meeting held by ‘Dharamacharis’ presided by Bhima Shanker Ling, Rawal of Kedarnath temple at Omkeshewar temple at Okkhimath, today, it was decided that Kedarnath temple will open on April 29 at 6.10 am as per the earlier announced dates

However, as per the announcement made by the state government, the Badrinath temple will re-open on May 15.