PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun The Kedarnath Dham will be reopened for devotees this year on April 22 at 8 AM. The date for reopening of the Dham was finalised on the occasion of Shivratri on Sunday in the presence of Rawal Bhimashankar Ling, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) chairman Hemant Dwivedi and others. The date was announced ceremoniously at the winter seat of lord Kedarnath in the Omkareshwar temple at Ukhimath in Rudraprayag district. The temple was decorated in about nine quintals of flowers with a large number of devotees offering prayers and partaking of the Bhandara organised by donors on the occasion. The BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi greeted the devotees on announcement of the reopening date while inviting all to undertake pilgrimage to the Char Dham including Badrinath and Kedarnath. Issuing directions for Yatra preparations, he said that the Kedarnath Yatra is a combined form of faith, traditions and livelihood in which the role of the traditional right holders is very important. He said that the temple committee is committed to preserving traditions and rights. The BKTC is working in coordination with the State government and administration to make the Char Dham Yatra safe, orderly and convenient for the devotees under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. With Badrinath Dham slated to reopen on April 23 and the date for Kedarnath’s reopening also being announced, the BKTC will speed up preparations for the Yatra, he said. The BKTC chief executive officer Vijay Prasad Thapliyal said that the committee’s preparations for the Yatra are nearing completion with inspections of its offices and rest houses also underway. According to the BKTC, the process of carrying the Panchmukhi Doli of Kedarnath will begin on April 18 with the worship of Bhairavnath at Omkareshwar. The Doli will depart for Fata on the next day, reaching the second halt at Gaurikund on April 20 and Kedarnath on April 21 where the Dham will be ceremoniously reopened at 8 AM on April 22.