Badri-Kedar Festival

The Badri-Kedar Festival is organized to celebrate the annual opening of the Char Dham temples of Uttarakhand. The Kedarnath temple doors usually open in late April, followed by Badrinath in early May. The festival features elaborate religious ceremonies at both shrines, where the deities are bathed, decorated, and re-installed after the long winter closure. In Joshimath, the winter seat of Lord Badri (Narsingh Temple), the deity's transfer ceremony is accompanied by grand processions. Cultural programs showcasing Garhwali folk art, dance, and music are organized in Joshimath, Chamoli, and surrounding areas. The festival marks the beginning of the most important pilgrimage season in Uttarakhand, with Char Dham Yatra drawing millions of devotees from across India.