Char Dham Yatra 2026: Kedarnath Dham located in the Devbhoomi of Uttarakhand is not just a temple but is the center of unwavering faith of crores of Hindus. The Chardham Yatra of the year 2026 is going to start from 19th April, while the doors of Baba Kedar will be opened for the devotees on 22nd April. The tradition of traveling to this Dham situated in the lap of Himalayas and reaching here is centuries old. Like every year, this time too lakhs of devotees are excited to be a part of this divine journey. According to religious texts and mythology, the establishment of this court and the tradition of reaching here is directly related to the Dwapar era and the war of Mahabharata.
The beginning of Kedarnath Yatra is related to Pandavas.
According to mythological beliefs, after the Mahabharata war, Pandavas took refuge in Lord Shiva to get freedom from their sins. But Lord Shiva was angry with him and to avoid meeting him he went towards the Himalayas. It is said that Lord Shiva took the form of a bull (Nandi) and hid in Guptkashi. When the Pandavas came to know about this, they recognized Lord Shiva. After this, Lord Shiva started sinking into the ground, then Bhima caught hold of the back part of the bull. This place later became famous as Kedarnath, where the pind (hump) of Lord Shiva is worshipped.
The mystery of the origin of Panchkedar
It is believed that different parts of Shiva’s body appeared at different places in the Himalayas, which are today called Panchkedar.
- Kedarnath Temple (Hunchback)
- Tungnath Temple (arms)
- Rudranath Temple (front)
- Madhyamaheshwar Temple (Navel)
- Kalpeshwar Temple (Jata)
The tradition of visiting these places gradually developed and today it has become an important religious journey.
Adi Shankaracharya gave new identity to Yatra
According to history, in the 8th century, Adi Shankaracharya revived the Kedarnath temple and established it among the major pilgrimage sites of Hinduism. It was he who gave an organized form to the Chardham Yatra, due to which this tradition became famous across the country.
This journey is a test of unwavering faith
In earlier times it was very difficult to reach Kedarnath. Devotees used to reach here on foot, passing through dangerous paths through forests and mountains. Today, even though the facilities have increased, the challenge of difficult climb and weather still remains in this journey. This is why it is also considered a test of penance and devotion.
Why is Baba Kedar’s court special?
It is believed that by visiting Kedarnath Dham with a true heart, all sins are destroyed and salvation is attained. This is the reason why every year lakhs of devotees reach here and take the blessings of this divine form of Lord Shiva.
Also read: Chardham Yatra from 19th April, do registration like this, what to do, from caution to planning, check full details here
Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.