Kedarnath to reopen on May 18

Dehradun - Portals of the Kedarnath temple situated in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand would be reopened on May 18 after remaining closed for about six months. "The portals of Kedarnath temple will be reopened on May 18 at 0715 hours," said an official of Shri Badrinath - Kedarnath temple committee The temple, situated at 3581-metre high Garhwal Himalayas, was closed on November 11 last year.

On May 19 the portals of Badrinath temple will also be reopened. Similarly, the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri temples situated in Uttarkashi district would reopen on May 16 coinciding with the Akshya tritiya.

Source: PTInews.com

Mahant Bharti's penance draws attention in Haridwar

Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Feb 7 (ANI): Mahant Amar Bharti, a religious leader in Haridwar here has caught everybody's attention for his unique penance at the Maha Kumbha Mela.


For the past several decades, Bharti has kept his right hand raised telling that it is a kind of penance, which was done in the past by different sages.

He says that he is just carrying forward the tradition.


"This is known as Oordhaman Tapasya (a type of penance where you devote a part of your body to the Almighty). It is something, which the saints have been doing for long; I am just continuing the tradition. It is not essential that it has a timing," said Bharti.


Bharti, who raised his hand as a part of the penance long ago, now is unable to lower it any more as the bone of his hand has deformed.

Besides the huge crowd that have gathered, even the other holy men present at the fair have equal words of praise for Bharti.


Mahant Vidyanand Saraswati said, "Since many years he is doing this, as a part of his penance, he has devoted his hand to the lord forever, it has been almost 50 years." Now, I guess only when his soul leaves his body, only then this penance would get effected," added Saraswati.


Devotees and holy men from all across the country pay their visits to the Maha Kumbha Mela for the massgathering.

Source: Oneindia.in