Gangotri Yatra 2024:
The sacred gates of the revered Gangotri Dham, located in Uttarkashi district, will be opened on 10 May on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The auspicious time for the opening of the gates is set for 12:25 PM on this day as per the Abhijit Muhurat. The Sri Panch Gangotri Temple Committee's office declared the timing of the temple's gate opening this Tuesday. The state government has also begun preparations for the Char Dham pilgrimage. Once again, registration will be mandatory for pilgrims visiting the site.
It's notable that the gates of the Sri Badrinath Dham will open on Sunday, 12 May at 6 AM, while the gates of Sri Kedarnath Dham and Yamunotri Dham will also open on 10 May. The exact opening time for the Yamunotri Dham is still to be determined by the temple committee.
The opening dates for the second revered Kedar, Madmaheshwar Ji, and third Kedar, Sri Tungnath Ji, as part of the Panch Kedar, will be determined on Saturday, 13 April on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi.
The Significance of Gangotri Dham
According to religious beliefs, Gangotri Dham is the hallowed place where Goddess Ganga descended to Earth. A sacred temple for Mother Ganga is located here. A rock formation here is worshipped as a Shiva Lingam, which can be seen only when the water level of Ganga recedes. This site is also said to be linked to Lord Rama; as per the myths, King Bhagirath, one of Lord Rama's ancestors, had performed asceticism here to invoke Lord Shiva.
The Significance of Yamunotri Dham
The temple of Goddess Yamuna is situated in Yamunotri, surrounded by a number of natural hot water springs that form various pools. Visitors here often cook their offerings in the hot spring pools and dedicate it to the deity. The most famous of these is Surya Kund, known for its exceptionally warm waters. Close to this pool is a rock named Divya Shila, which devotees worship before paying homage to the Goddess.
