Uttarakhand

• 26 Mar 2025

PM Modi's Visit to Mukhwa

Why in News? 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mukhwa, the winter abode of "Mother Ganga" in Uttarkashi district, has generated a positive atmosphere for the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. 

Key Points 

• Char Dham Yatra refers to a pilgrimage of four holy sites Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath situated in the higher ranges of the Himalayas.  
• The annual Char Dham Yatra is scheduled to begin this year (2025) with the opening of the doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri temples in the Garhwal Himalayas on 30th April 2025.  
• It was for the first time that the prime minister came to Uttarakhand close to the start of the Char Dham Yatra.  
• Mukhba - Winter Shrine of Gangotri:  
  • This place is popular due to the fact that the idol of Goddess Ganga is brought down to Mukhba from the shrine of Gangotri in the Upper Himalayas and kept here throughout the winters as Gangotri becomes inaccessible due to heavy Snowfall.  
  • Every year on the auspicious occasion of Diwali the idol of Ganga is brought down to a temple in Mukhba with a procession of devotees and the Army band of Garhwal Rifles.  
  • Devotees can visit Mukhba as a part of Winter Char Dham as the Uttarakhand government has planned to open all the Char Dhams Shrine for winters also. Mukhba can also be covered during Char Dham Yatra as well. 

 

Char Dham Yatra 

• Yamunotri Dham: 
  • Location: Uttarkashi district. 
  • Dedicated to: Goddess Yamuna. 
  • River Yamuna is the second-most sacred river in India after River Ganga. 
• Gangotri Dham: 
  • Location: Uttarkashi district. 
  • Dedicated to: Goddess Ganga. 
  • Considered the most sacred of all Indian rivers. 
• Kedarnath Dham: 
  • Location: Rudraprayag district. 
  • Dedicated to: Lord Shiva. 
  • Situated on the bank of the Mandakini River. 
  • One of the 12 Jyotirlingas (divine representations of Lord Shiva) in India. 
• Badrinath Dham: 
  • Location: Chamoli district. 
  • Home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple. 
  • Dedicated to: Lord Vishnu. 
  • One of the holy shrines for Vaishnavites.