Kedarnath: On Friday at 7:00 am, the devotees were able to enter the Shri Kedarnath Dham. Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief minister of Uttarakhand, greeted all of the pilgrims as he arrived at the temple grounds on this special day. A chopper rained flowers on the worshipers while an Indian Army band performed devotional songs for them.

‘Jai Baba Kedar’ cries reverberated across the Kedar Valley as the Panchmukhi Doli of Lord Kedarnath arrived at Shri Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand on Thursday.

Following the holy procession from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, CM Dhami wrote on X that it was characterized by “reverence, faith, and devotion.”

“The Panchmukhi idol of Baba Kedarnath arrived at the revered Shri Kedar Dham today after the ceremonial devotion in Gaurikund. “There was a sense of devotion among the devotees when the Doli arrived at the temple grounds, and the chanting of ‘Jai Baba Kedar’ filled the entire Dham,” CM Dhami wrote on X.

The area was under increased protection earlier Thursday, and security personnel were sent in to protect the believers.

“The safety of devotees is our top priority,” said Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshay Prahlad Konde.

“The safety and security of the devotees is our first responsibility since this yatra is so massive… For management and security reasons, the appropriate security personnel have been sent in,” the SP said.

In the meanwhile, the 2025 Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra helicopter service, which provides pilgrims with a practical mode of transportation, started operating from Sonprayag in Uttarakhand.