Chief of the Indian Army, General Upendra Dwivedi, made a significant visit to the revered Kedarnath shrine on Sunday, accompanied by his family. During their time at the temple, General Dwivedi engaged in special prayers dedicated to Lord Shiva, spending approximately half an hour within the temple grounds immersed in rituals marked by devotion and reverence.
The visit was met with traditional honors from the Kedarnath Teerth Purohit Samaj and the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, who extended a warm welcome to the Army Chief and his family. The puja ceremony was conducted under the guidance of temple priests, with Vedic chants enhancing the spiritual ambiance of the occasion.
Following the prayer session, General Dwivedi expressed his admiration for the spiritual essence and magnificence of the Kedarnath shrine. He remarked on the divine and extraordinary nature of the site, sharing that his visit brought immense peace to his soul.
This visit comes during a period of increased visibility and accessibility for the Kedarnath temple, which has welcomed a host of high-profile visitors recently. Notable figures such as Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta have also made pilgrimage trips to the shrine this June, further highlighting its importance as a spiritual destination.
The Kedarnath temple, which opened its gates to devotees on May 2, has experienced a remarkable surge in pilgrim activity since then. Reports indicate that a staggering 865,614 devotees have visited the shrine, with 23,532 pilgrims performing darshan and rituals on June 7 alone. This influx of visitors underscores the site’s profound spiritual significance and its enduring appeal as a pilgrimage destination in India.
