Dehradun: Kedarnath Yatra proved to be special this time in many ways. Although the Yatra this year saw the arrival of less than three lakh pilgrims compared to the last year in the Kedar Dham, horse-mule operators and Heli companies did a good business. While the Yatra lasted for 205 days last year, it could continue for only for 153 days in the season concluded on Sunday.
This year’s Kedarnath Yatra shows the growing craze for the Heli services, the Horse-mule riding and hiring of “Dandi-Kandi” services. According to a report, 9377 horses and mules were registered for this Yatra season. To provide the “Dandi-Kandi” services, 8477 labourers got registered.
Pilgrims showed interest in hiring the services of horses and mules for the Kedarnath Yatra
According to the manager of an IT service company, about 4,79, 624 pilgrims used horses and mules to reach Kedarnath temple during their Yatra. This apparently financially helped the operators of horses and mules in a good way this year. The district administration also has good revenue.
The pilgrims also showed their interest to avail the facilities of “Dand-Kandi” services to reach Kedarnath Dham. About 65000 pilgrims hired the services of Dandi-Kandi” on their way to Kedarnath Dham. According to a report, Zila Panchayat earned about 3.66 crores.
Nine Heli companies provided their services in this Kedarnath yatra season
The district tourism officer of Rudraprayag Rahul Choubey, who was also nodal officer for the Heli services, told reporters that nine companies provided Heli services for the Kedarnath Yatra this time. The helicopters, owned by these companies, made 22,735 sorties during this Yatra season. With the help of Heli services, 1,28,293 pilgrims reached Kedarnath to offer their prayers. Last year, 1,40,641 pilgrims had used the Heli services to reach the Dham. According to one estimate, Heli services generated a turnover of more than rupees 100 crore.
May 21 saw the arrival of highest number of pilgrims in a single day in the history of Yatra season
The first day of Kedarnath Yatra on May 10 saw the arrival of more than 29000 pilgrims in Kedar valley. Going by the enthusiasm shown by the pilgrims this year, new records were expected to be created during this Yatra season. May 21 brought the happiest day for the locals in view of the arrival of a record number of 38,682 pilgrims in a single day in Kedar valley. Never in the history, such a high number of pilgrims reached Kedarnath Dham in a single day.
The July 31 disaster put a brake on the speed of the yatra
However, the disaster which hit the Kedarnath Dham on July 31 put a brake on the speed of Yatra. The trek route was also damaged, besides the highways due to heavy rains and landslides. The state government swung into action and cleared all the hurdles in the way of Kedarnath Yatra. The trek route was re-opened on August 15.
