As the nation gears up for the Diwali festival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uttarakhand on Friday and participated in prayers at the renowned Kedarnath temple, donning a traditional handmade Himachali dress. Arriving at Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun around 8 am, PM Modi was welcomed by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Governor Gurmeet Singh. Amidst sacred chants by priests, the Prime Minister offered prayers at the adorned Kedarnath temple, complete with flowers and a red carpet. Following the protocol, the area was restricted to common tourists while the Prime Minister was present.
PM Modi also paid a visit to the Adi Guru Shankaracharya Samadhi Sthal in Kedarnath, where he had unveiled a 12-foot-tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya during his previous visit in November. This site is believed to be where Shankaracharya attained samadhi in the ninth century. During his last visit, PM Modi emotionally expressed his deep connection to Kedarnath.
On this occasion, Modi engaged with daily wage workers involved in construction activities and inaugurated the Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib ropeway project. He reviewed ongoing developments, including the Mandakini Asthapath and Saraswati Asthapath. The ropeway, spanning approximately 9.7 km, will link Gaurikund to Kedarnath, significantly reducing travel time from 6-7 hours to just 30 minutes. Similarly, the Hemkund ropeway, covering 12.4 km, will connect Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib, reducing travel time from over a day to about 45 minutes. This ropeway will also link Ghangaria, the gateway to the ‘Valley of Flowers’ National Park.
During the visit, PM Modi showcased a ‘Chola Dora,’ a handmade dress gifted to him by the women of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. The attire, adorned with a swastika and peacock feathers, was complemented by a red and yellow pahadi cap and a kamarband.
Around 11:30 am, the Prime Minister reached Badrinath Dham, where he performed darshan and puja at the temple. Wearing a white kurta-pajama and a black winter jacket, he participated in the puja on the temple floor amid Vedic mantras. Observing customs, he remembered his ancestors and prayed for their mukti.
In the following itinerary, PM Modi planned to assess riverfront development progress, lay the foundation stone for road and ropeway projects in Mana village, and monitor developments at the arrival plaza and lakes. Additionally, he was scheduled to lay the foundation stone for road widening projects, valued at around Rs 1,000 crore, enhancing all-weather road connectivity to border areas.
Mana village, located in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, holds strategic importance due to its proximity to the border with China. As the last Indian village before the border, it is also significant for border security. The village has historical significance, with beliefs that the Pandavas and Draupadi passed through on their journey to ‘swarg,’ accompanied by Yamraj in the form of a dog. Notably, the village features ‘Bhimpul,’ a bridge across the Saraswati river, believed to be constructed by Bhim to aid Draupadi during their journey.
