Mussoorie, April 20 -- The portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams in Uttarkashi opened for devotees amid the chant of Vedic hymns and beating of traditional drums on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on Sunday, marking the formal start of the Char Dham Yatra for the season. Thousands of pilgrims who had gathered in the temple courtyard at Gangotri Dham. In a grand gesture of celebration, a helicopter showered flower petals over the devotees gathered at the Dham. Dhami hailed the occasion as an extraordinarily blessed day for the state. He said, "Prioritising the convenience of pilgrims, the government has ensured the availability of all basic amenities and is paying special attention to smooth traffic management along the pilgrimage routes so that devotees do not face any inconvenience." He also appealed to devotees to cooperate in making the Char Dham Yatra a "green and clean" pilgrimage. Suresh Semwal, secretary of the Temple Committee, said, "All rituals were conducted strictly in accordance with traditional Vedic rites to ensure the sanctity of the opening of the portal at 12.15 pm." The ceremonial palanquin (Utsav Doli) of Goddess Ganga departed from Bhairav Ghati on Sunday and on the arrival of the procession at Gangotri Dham, the Ganga Pujan and the recitation of the Ganga Sahasranamam were performed by the priests before the opening of the portal, said Suresh Semwal. The portals of Yamunotri Dham too opened for devotees on Sunday, marking the commencement of Char Dham Yatra. Following traditional rituals and the chanting of Vedic mantras, the portals were opened at the designated shubh muhurat (auspicious time) of 12:35 PM. With the opening of the shrine, pilgrims from India and across the globe can now seek the blessings of Goddess Yamuna for the next six months of the summer pilgrimage season. The day's festivities began early morning at Khushimath (Kharsali), the winter seat of Goddess Yamuna, on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya where the ceremonial Doli (palanquin) of the Goddess, led by the palanquin of Lord Shani Dev, departed for the Dham at 8:30 AM. Upon reaching Yamunotri Dham, priests conducted elaborate Havan-Pujan and other sacred rituals before the portals were unlocked at exactly 12:35 PM. Purshotam Uniyal, spokesperson for the Yamuna temple committee said, "With the opening of the portal the Char Dham Yatra has officially started, and devotees can now offer prayers in the Yamunotri temple for the next six months." Meanwhile, the district administration has set up control rooms, medical relief posts, transit camps and parking facilities along the pilgrimage route through Pauri Garhwal, a vital stretch of the yatra. District magistrate Swati S Bhadauriya conducted an on-site winspection of the arrangements....