Kedarnath, May 1 — As the sacred doors of Kedarnath Dham are set to open on Friday, security has been significantly heightened to ensure the safety and smooth movement of pilgrims, officials confirmed on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police Akshay Prahlad Konde emphasized that the safety of devotees is the top priority. “This yatra is conducted on a massive scale. Our primary focus is ensuring the security and well-being of all devotees. Adequate security forces have been deployed for both protection and crowd management,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee, Vilay Thapliyal, stated, “Tomorrow marks an auspicious occasion as the doors of Baba Kedarnath Dham will open. We have made elaborate preparations this year.”

The revered Kedarnath temple is adorned with 13 quintals of flowers. The idol of Baba Kedarnath arrived at the shrine on May 1, and the temple doors will be formally opened for devotees at 7:00 AM on May 2.

In a boost to pilgrimage accessibility, helicopter services for the 2025 Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra commenced from Sonprayag, Uttarakhand. Pawan Rana, a helicopter operator, noted, “Online tickets are available through IRCTC, while offline bookings can be made via the District Magistrate or Sector Magistrate. We operate 20 to 30 shuttles daily, transporting over 150 pilgrims.”

He further explained that flights are weather-dependent. “If the skies are clear, we conduct up to 30 flights a day. In case of adverse weather, flights are cancelled with full focus on passenger safety. All passengers are briefed before boarding,” he added. Approximately 150 online bookings are being made daily, with advance bookings available a month in advance.

Meanwhile, the Char Dham Yatra 2025 officially commenced on April 30, with the opening of the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The ceremonies included traditional Vedic rituals, chanting, and worship.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the ceremonial Kapadodghatan (door-opening) at both Dhams and performed the first puja on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praying for the success of the Yatra and the nation’s well-being. Dhami made history as the first Chief Minister to attend the Kapadodghatan at Yamunotri Dham.

The Chief Minister also inspected arrangements and stated that comprehensive measures have been implemented to ensure a safe and well-managed pilgrimage. Special attention is being given to traffic control and the provision of essential services along the Yatra routes.

As per tradition, the ceremonial doli of Maa Ganga reached Gangotri Dham from Bhairav Temple in Bhairav Valley, while Maa Yamuna’s palanquin, led by Shanidev Maharaj, arrived at Yamunotri from Kharsali, her winter abode. The doors of Yamunotri Dham were opened at 11:55 AM amidst religious chants and rituals.

Thousands of devotees from across India and abroad participated in the opening ceremonies, taking holy dips in the sacred Ganga and Yamuna rivers and receiving darshan of the Akhand Jyoti.

According to official data, over 22 lakh pilgrims have already registered for the Yatra through the Rishikesh Transit Camp.