National
For the May 2 opening, Assamese Japis wore Kedarnath Temple in a grand cultural tribute.
In a significant move, the sacred Kedarnath Temple has used a dozen traditional Assamese japis—a handcrafted bamboo-and-silk hat—to decorate the sacred temple for its grand opening day on May 2, 2025, creating a colourful and symbolic welcome for thousands of devotees. This showcases Assam’s rich cultural heritage on a national stage.
As the pilgrims arrived at one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage destinations, the iconic, adorned Assamese Japis added with a unique blend of regional tradition to the temple’s floral and artistic decor greeted the pilgrims.
This artistic addition served as a powerful tribute to Assam’s rich craft traditions and its place in the broader fabric of Indian culture while enhancing the visual richness of the temple premises. Japis, widely celebrated as a symbol of Assamese identity, devotees and visitors have praised this cultural fusion in the sacred setting.
Located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath temple is one of the most sacred destinations for the followers of the Shivite sect of Hinduism. It is in one of the most important destinations on the Char Dham Yatra, which is a pilgrimage to four of the most important religious destinations of the country.
