On June 13th, 2019, a group of 19 people, consisting of Sannyasins, Brahmacharis, and some Grihastha devotees of Adi Shankara Brahma Vidya Peeth set on a padayatra (pilgrimage on foot) to Pancha Kedar comprising the temples of Kedarnath, Madmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar.

The story of Pancha Kedar dates back to the Mahabharata period. After the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas went to the Himalayas looking for Lord Siva to repent their sins of the battle. The Lord, who was displeased by their behaviour, concealed Himself in the form of a bull. He divided his body into five parts and spread them in inaccessible spots high in the Himalayan mountains where temples were built later on. These temples are an important centre of pilgrimage and ardent devotees undergo various hardships to visit them.

On the first day, the group travelled in Jeeps to a small town called Buddha Kedar and from there they started their walk. Over a period of two weeks, they travelled, mostly on foot, through various mountains and valleys in the remote Himalayan regions. They were faced with harsh conditions and rain and managed on a basic diet. They successfully overcome all the challenges posed during their travel. The group worshipped the Lord in all the five Tirthas and even paid a short visit to the temple of Badrinath.

The yatra was made possible by the grace of Lord Almighty. Here are some pictures from the yatra.