The Uttarakhand government on Thursday suspended the Char Dham Yatra for this year due to the surging second wave of the deadly coronavirus pandemic. The yatra was scheduled to start from May 14.

Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said priests of the four temples will perform rituals and puja.

"Uttarakhand government has suspended the Char Dham Yatra this year in view of COVID-19 situation in the state. Only priests of the four temples will perform rituals and puja," Rawat said.

The Char Dham yatra to the four pilgrimage sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarakhand draws large crowds every year.

The portals of Yamunotri Dham will open on May 14, followed by Gangotri Dham (May 15), Kedarnath Dham (May 17) and Badarinath Dham (May 18).

The four holy shrines dedicated to Hindu gods and holy rivers of India are collectively referred as 'Char Dham'.

Pilgrims from all over India and abroad visit the shrines as 'Char Dham Yatra'. In Hindu religion, Char Dham Yatra holds a great importance. It is believed that every Hindu should undertake Char Dham Yatra at least once in a lifetime to avail the blessings of gods adorning the shrines.

Haridwar is the traditional point to start Char Dham Yatra from where pilgrims travel to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.