The Chardham pilgrimage has been began on Wednesday with reopening of the portals of Kedarnath, Gangotri & Yamunotri shrines. Amid chanting of vedic hymns & shlokas, the doors of Kedarnath, Gangotri & Yamunotri temples were reopened coinciding with the auspicious day of Akshya Tritiya. It is for the first time after a gap of over four decades that portals of three shrines were reopened on the same day.

As icy winds swept the area, scores of pilgrims offered prayers at the temples on the first day of the yatra season. The portals of Kedarnath (3581 meter) were reopened at the crack of the dawn as the palanquin of Lord Shiva reached the sanctum sanctorum.

Doors of Gangotri & Yamunotri shrines, situated at a height of 3200 meter & 4421 meter respectively in Uttarkashi district were also thrown open on Wednesday.

Badrinath, which is located in Chamoli district at a height of 3133 meter, will be opened on May 9. The government has taken various steps for the smooth conduct of yatra & directed all the departments to work in tandem during the period.