Uttarkashi. (22 September 2024) These days, a large number of pilgrims are visiting Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham. In a period of 22 days this month, more than one lakh forty five thousand devotees have visited these two Dhams. In comparison to the Yatra of previous years, the number of devotees visiting Yamunotri Dham has increased significantly from the beginning of this Yatra period. This year so far, the number of devotees reaching Yamunotri Dham has crossed six lakhs and more than six lakh eighty thousand pilgrims have reached Gangotri Dham so far.
As a result of clear weather, the movement of pilgrims in both these Dhams is likely to increase further in the coming days. In view of which, the administration has increased the arrangements related to the Yatra and paid special attention to the improvement of roads and traffic management. Traffic has also been started on the newly constructed alternative route in place of the road damaged due to landslide between Janki Chatti and Phool Chatti from today.
According to the Yatra Bulletin issued by the District Administration, a total of 12372 pilgrims have reached Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham today. With the arrival of 6292 pilgrims in Yamunotri Dham today, the total number of pilgrims visiting the Dham in the total period of 136 days of this Yatra period has become 602364. Whereas last year in the same period of 136 days, 503567 pilgrims had come to Yamunotri Dham. With the arrival of 6080 pilgrims in Gangotri Dham today, the total number of pilgrims arriving here since the opening of the gates on 10 May during this Yatra period has become 680950. Whereas last year, in the period of 136 days from 10th May to 22nd September, 619387 devotees had arrived at Gangotri Dham.
The figures of the Yatra clearly show the remarkable increase in the arrival of pilgrims to both these Dhams this year. The trend of arrival of devotees in Yamunotri Dham has changed during this Yatra period. Devotees are flocking to Yamunotri Dham since the beginning of the Yatra period. There is still about one and a half months left for this Yatra period to end and in view of the continuous increase in the movement of pilgrims after the departure of monsoon, the number of pilgrims coming to Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham can touch new heights this time.
One of the reasons behind the increase in the number of devotees during this Yatra period is that the Yatra routes of both the Dhams of the district were never closed for the whole day this time. Battling day and night with the challenges of roads getting blocked due to landslides during the monsoon, the administration kept the Yatra routes smooth with the cooperation of the departments and organizations related to the roads. Due to the continuous deployment of machines and human resources at sensitive places as well as other important places to open the roads and prompt action, the blocked roads were opened immediately, due to which this time the journey was never interrupted for the whole day except for a short period.
Now in the second phase of the Yatra, due to the increase in the crowd on the Yatra routes and Dhams, District Magistrate Dr. Meherban Singh Bisht has instructed the concerned departments to keep the arrangements related to the convenience and safety of the passengers in order as well as to keep the roads smooth and repair the damaged roads. The District Magistrate has also given instructions to pay special attention to the health and cleanliness system at the Dhams and Yatra halts as well as to ensure traffic as per the SOP fixed on the Yamunotri walking route.
