Three months after devastation, Kedarnath temple to open on Wednesday

Kedarnath: The stage is all set for resumption of prayers on Wednesday at the calamity-hit Kedarnath shrine, 86 days after flashfloods in Uttarakhand left hundreds of pilgrims and locals dead.

The sanctum-sanctorum of the Himalayan shrine has been spruced up under the supervision of a team of Kedarnath-Badrinath Committee and administrative officials. Prayers will resume in the presence of a 24-member team of priests and temple committee officials after a sanctification and atonement ceremony.

The chief priest of Kedarnath shrine, Rawal Bhima Shankar Ling Shivacharya, has left for the temple by chopper to give final touches for the prayers on Wednesday. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna accompanied by his ministerial colleagues will participate in the prayers.

The combing operation launched on Tuesday last in the upper reaches of Kedar valley to trace bodies has been suspended now with the ritual cremation of 185 skeletal remains recovered from Garurchatti and Rambara areas close to the Himalayan shrine, DGP Satyavrat Bansal said.

The operation will resume again after the prayers. Swami Hansdevacharya, one of the representatives of the Sankaracharya attending the prayers said, "We will seek forgiveness of Lord Shiva for the prolonged suspension of prayers at the shrine after the unprecedented tragedy, which caused large scale damage to Kedar valley".

Officials in Kedarnath said the prayers are being resumed for the deities and not for the devotees as much of the infrastructure has been damaged. "Nobody is allowed to visit the shrine via road route as much of the roads are damaged and we cannot take any chances," said Bansal.

Priest Shivacharya (rpt) Priest Shivacharya, who was going to the Kedarnath shrine, had to return to Guptkashi helipad due to bad weather. The chief priest, who had to return due to bad weather, reached Kedarnath in the evening. He traditionally holds the authority to open the portals of the shrine. Puja will be held from 7 am to 11 am on Wednesday, the auspicious day of Sarwartha Siddi Yog.