The Char Dham Yatra will be banned for the first time for YouTubers and social media creators from the premises of the temple this year. The Kedar-Badri Panda Samaj is opposed to video content being created on the temple premises. They stated that if any Creator is found videoing and making reels or videos for YouTube, they will not be allowed to complete the pilgrimage and will be sent back.

The Panda Samaj said that the authorities have been informed and that they have also spoken with the state government on the new rule. The journey will begin on April 30th (Akshaya Tritiya) when the doors of the Gangotri and Yamunotri temples are opened. The doors of Kedarnath will open on May 2nd, and the doors of Badrinath will open on May 4th, kicking off the pilgrimage to Char Dham in full.

Facilities For Pilgrims

To facilitate proper management in inclement weather, holding areas are being established in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Byasi, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Sonprayag, Herbertpur, Vikasnagar, Barkot, and Bhatwari for as many as 10 areas for having facilities like water, toilets, bedding, medicines, food supplies, to ensure a secure and comfortable stay for pilgrims in the case of delays. The full yatra route has sections of 10 km, with the deployment of six police personnel on motorcycles to assist seekers in each section in an emergency.

Over 9 Lakh Registrations So Far

More than 9 lakh devotees have registered for the Char Dham Yatra in just six days. The most registrations have been reported for Kedarnath, with 2.75 lakh, Badrinath was the next highest with 2.24 lakh; followed by Gangotri (1.38 lakh), Yamunotri registered (1.34 lakh), and there are 8,000 for Hemkund Sahib.

When Will Offline Yatra begin?

The Tourism Development Council will soon provide many options for registration, including registration via website, mobile, WhatsApp, and a toll-free helpline, for quick access. Once the yatra is officially started, offline registration will commence in Haridwar and Rishikesh for anyone that missed or was unable to register online. Additionally, a token system will be implemented at all four of the dhams to assist in the darshan process for pilgrims.

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