India, May 4 -- The portals of Badrinath Dham were opened to devotees at 6 am on Sunday amid the chanting of Vedic mantras and the rhythmic beating of traditional drums, as over 15,000 pilgrims from across the country gathered at the Himalayan shrine for the opening ceremony.

After greeting the devotees and reviewing the yatra arrangements, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "The state government is making efforts at every level to ensure a safe, smooth Char Dham Yatra with enhanced facilities for the convenience of the pilgrims and all devotees visiting the Devbhoomi (land of Gods) Uttarakhand are urged to extend their full cooperation in maintaining a green and clean Char Dham Yatra."

Dhami, who performed the first '...