UTTARKASHI/UTTARAKHAND, April 20 — The Char Dham Yatra 2026 officially commenced on Monday as the Gangotri and Yamunotri temples in Uttarakhand threw open their portals to pilgrims on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, drawing enormous crowds to the Himalayan shrines after months of anticipation. Priests performed the traditional 'kapat udghatan' ceremonies at dawn, with state officials and religious leaders in attendance at both sites.

Estimates from the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board placed the number of registered pilgrims at over 90,000 for the opening weekend, with many having arrived in Haridwar and Rishikesh by Sunday evening in preparation for the journey. The timing of this year's opening on Akshaya Tritiya — widely considered one of the most auspicious dates in the Hindu calendar — was seen as particularly significant, drawing larger-than-expected crowds compared to recent years.

State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami greeted pilgrims via a live address broadcast at major staging points along the yatra route, urging devotees to observe safety protocols on mountain roads. The Uttarakhand Police and NDRF teams were deployed at key checkpoints along the routes to Gangotri and Yamunotri as authorities managed the flow of pilgrims in personal vehicles, shared taxis, and dedicated state buses.

The Kedarnath and Badrinath temples — the remaining two of the four Char Dham shrines — are scheduled to open in the coming days, with Kedarnath expected to welcome pilgrims later in the week. The full circuit through these four sacred sites represents one of the most important religious journeys in Hinduism, attracting pilgrims primarily from North India but increasingly drawing visitors from across the country and abroad.

Local traders in Uttarkashi and the Barkot valley reported brisk business on Monday morning, with shops selling offerings, warm clothing, and trekking supplies sold out within hours of opening. Travel agencies across India noted that the combination of Akshaya Tritiya and the Char Dham opening had generated unprecedented demand for last-minute bookings to Haridwar and Dehradun this season.