Hoteliers, traders hope for heavy pilgrim rush
PILGRIMAGE HAD BEEN CONDUCTED IN A RESTRICTIVE MANNER IN PAST TWO YEARS DUE TO COVID OUTBREAK
HARIDWAR: With a sharp dip in Covid-19 cases and easing of travel restrictions in the state, priests, traders, hoteliers and tour operators are hopeful of influx of pilgrims during the upcoming Char Dham pilgrimage season.
Char Dham pilgrimage, owing to pandemic restrictions, had been conducted in a restrictive manner for the past two years. This also impacted livelihood of the people living along routes to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines.
Majority of teerth purohits, traders, hoteliers and travel tour operators in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dev Prayag, Srinagar, Karanprayag, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Harshil, Badkot , Joshimath, Sonparayag and other places depend on Char Dham pilgrimage to earn sufficiently for the rest of six months when the pilgrimage remains closed for winter months.
Ganga Sabha that manages the affairs of the sanctum sanctorum of Brahamkund at Har-kiPauri has started preparing for the pilgrimage season. District administrations of Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi also started gearing up for the Char Dham yatra.
Chamoli district magistrate
Himanshu Khurana said: “Meetings are being held for ensuring proper arrangements and facilities before portals of Badrinath Dham opens for pilgrims on May 8.”
At Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines too, preparations are fast catching up to ensure arrangements are in full place before May 3, when on the pious occasion of Akshaya Tritya, portals of both the shrines get open for devotees.
Uttarkashi district magistrate Mayur Dixit said: “The chief medical officer has been directed to ensure sufficient availability of live saving drugs, oxygen cylinders and medical equipment before the pilgrimage commences.”
Haridwar Travel Association president Umesh Paliwal said travel operators were hopeful of good business during the Char Dham pilgrimage season. “We demand from the government to open green card counters in city periphery also apart from RTO office for convenience of travel operators.”