Page 52 - Mann Ki Baat - English May 2022

What is Char Dham Yatra?

Char Dham of Uttarakhand or (October or November). The
Chota Char Dham (small four Char Dham Yatra is as divine as
abodes) is one of the most it is arduous but fulfills the soul.
important pilgrimages in India.
The Yamunotri temple, lodged
This Yatra or pilgrimage is a tour
in a narrow gorge close to the
of four holy sites—Yamunotri,
source of River Yamuna (the
Gangotri, Kedarnath, and
second-most sacred Indian
Badrinath. The high-altitude
river after River Ganga) in
shrines remain shut for around
Uttarkashi district, is dedicated
six months every year, opening
to Goddess Yamuna. The district
in summers (April or May) and
of Uttarkashi is also home to
closing with the onset of winter
Gangotri, dedicated to Goddess
Ganga, the
most sacred of
all Indian rivers.
Located in the
Rudraprayag
district lies
Kedarnath,
dedicated to
Lord Shiva.
Badrinath, home
to the sacred
Badrinarayan
Temple, is
dedicated to
Lord Vishnu.
It is believed
that one should
complete the
Char Dham Yatra
in a clockwise
direction. Hence,
the pilgrimage
starts from
Yamunotri,
proceeds
towards
Gangotri, onto
Kedarnath, and
finally ends at
Badrinath.

48
48