The third temple of Third Kedar, Tungnath ji opened in Chopta, Rudraprayag at 11:30 am on Wednesday 2020, with maintaining physical distancing by all priests. Soon after the opening rituals, first prayers at the shrine were offered on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tungnath shrine is the world’s highest Shiva Temple, located at a height of 3680Mters above the sea level.

The palanquin carrying the deity reached the shrine from Chopta in Rudraprayag at 9 am on Wednesday after it left from Makku math village, the winter abode of the deity on May 18, following an Utsav Doli.

All priests and temple workers wore masks and ensured proper physical distancing during the opening ceremony in the presence of officials from the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board.

As soon as the shrine’s portals were opened, rituals like Samadhi Puja, Rudrabhishek and Jalabhishek were carried out.

With the opening of the portals of Tungnath shrine, all five temples of Lord Shiva in the state have been opened for the summer season. However, given the coronavirus pandemic, Char Dham Yatra has not started in the state this year.

Satpal Maharaj, tourism and culture minister in Uttarakhand, said the Char Dham yatra is expected to begin soon after the epidemic situation is brought under control.

Harish Gaur, media in-charge of Chardham Devasthanam Management Board said that all the shrines including the four holy shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri have been opened successfully in the state, with all priests strictly following physical distancing norms and wearing masks at all times.

Tungnath temple is not only popular with devotees but also a major tourist attraction as it is surrounded by the lush green alpine meadows.

• Also know about that festive day, on which announcement takes place for opening the kapat of Tungnath.

यह भी जानिए कब भगवान तुंगनाथ के कपाट खुलेंगे और कब बंद होंगे कौन सी तिथि और पर्व को होती है इसकी घोषणा ? और कौन करता है इसका निर्धारण ?