Kedarnath, Badrinath to reserve dedicated darshan slots for elderly, disabled pilgrims

Dehradun: Elderly and disabled pilgrims visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath will soon get dedicated time slots for darshan, with the Badri Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) preparing a standard operating procedure to help them avoid long queues at the Himalayan shrines.Under the proposed SOP, exclusive 30-minute darshan slots will be reserved during both morning and evening hours at the two temples for senior citizens and disabled devotees. Pilgrims above 70 years of age will have to produce their Aadhaar cards to avail the facility, while disabled visitors will be required to submit disability certificates.The move comes amid a sharp rise in pilgrim footfall this year. Till May 15, around 5.7 lakh devotees visited Kedarnath, while 3.6 lakh offered prayers at Badrinath. The total number of Char Dham pilgrims has crossed 14 lakh.Officials said the arrangement aims to address longstanding concerns over elderly and disabled devotees having to stand for hours in queues under difficult weather and high-altitude conditions. Kedarnath is located at an altitude of 11,755 feet above sea level, while Badrinath stands at 10,279 feet. Rain and overcast conditions are frequent in the region.Eligible pilgrims will have to register at BKTC counters to access the facility. BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi said, “The move has been initiated to provide a hassle-free pilgrimage experience to elderly and disabled devotees.”