Uttarakhand’s famous Char Dham Yatra has already commenced and is drawing pilgrims from all over the country. While COVID-19 has hindered the pilgrimage ever since its outbreak in India, the popular pilgrim circuit is now open. The state government is now keen to simplify its registration process for the same and ease it for lakhs of pilgrims who visit the state every year for it.
Currently, dual registration is needed for the pilgrimage; those intending to undertake the journey need to register via the Smart City portal as well as the Devasthanam Board; the concerned authorities are keen to exempt pilgrims for the same.
Additional Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan expressed that once the process is eased, pilgrims who have registered on the Devasthanam Board portal would not require to register on the Smart City portal. He also suggested that an interim plea regarding the cap on the daily number of pilgrims should be filed in the Uttarakhand High Court; it will be aimed at increasing the cap from the current limit.
Uttarakhand’s Char Dham, also known as India’s Chota Char Dham, comprises Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Every year, lakhs of devotees throng to the sites, before the pilgrimage is stopped at the onset of winter.
