Portals of Gangotri Temple close for winter
Garhwal Post Bureau
Gangotri (Uttarkashi), 10 Nov: The portals of the world-famous Gangotri Dham were closed for the six-month winter season today on the auspicious occasion of Annakut and Govardhan Puja, marking the beginning of the annual winter migration of worship associated with Goddess Ganga. The shrine was closed at 12:05 p.m. this afternoon during the auspicious Abhijit Muhurat amid Vedic chanting, elaborate religious rituals and the presence of thousands of devotees.
Following the closure of the temple, the idol of Goddess Ganga was placed in the ceremonial palanquin and began its journey to Mukhba village, the deity’s winter abode, accompanied by the tunes of the Army band and traditional musical instruments. Devotees bid an emotional farewell to the deity with chants in praise of Goddess Ganga. For the next six months, devotees will be able to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Goddess Ganga at Mukhimath in Mukhba, where the winter worship ceremonies will be conducted.
Religious proceedings connected with the closure of the shrine had begun early morning today. The Teerth Purohits performed the abhishek and aarti of Goddess Ganga at the riverbank, while special prayers and rituals were conducted inside the temple. In accordance with the predetermined muhurat, the temple portals were formally closed at 12:05 p.m. for the winter season.
The departure of the ceremonial palanquin transformed the entire shrine area into a deeply devotional atmosphere. The sounds of traditional instruments and the Army band’s performances accompanied the procession as it moved towards Mukhba. Sages who remain in the region during winter, along with employees responsible for maintaining the temple, ashrams and hotels in the area, also gathered to offer a heartfelt farewell to the Deity.
Gangotri Dham priest Rajesh Semwal said the ceremonial palanquin would halt for an overnight stay at the Markandeypuri Devi Temple, where devotional singing and religious rituals would continue throughout the night. The palanquin is scheduled to reach Mukhba tomorrow, after which the worship and darshan of Goddess Ganga will continue there for the next six months.
Even after the closure of the temple, the sacred Akhand Jyoti inside the shrine will continue to burn uninterrupted throughout the winter months.
Gangotri Temple Committee Chairman Dharmanand Semwal said a large copper lamp is placed inside the temple and filled with sufficient oil before the shrine is closed. According to tradition and belief, when the temple portals reopen on Akshaya Tritiya next year, the sacred flame is found still burning. He added that devotees visiting the shrine after its reopening are blessed not only with the darshan of Goddess Ganga but also with the opportunity to witness the Akhand Jyoti.
This year witnessed a strong inflow of pilgrims to Gangotri Dham, with more than 10 lakh devotees visiting the shrine from the opening of the pilgrimage season until its closure. Even on the final day, large crowds of pilgrims from different parts of the country thronged the temple to offer prayers before the winter closure and seek blessings from Goddess Ganga.
To mark the occasion, the Gangotri Temple was decorated with more than five quintals of flowers, creating a spectacular and visually striking setting for the final day of worship. The temple complex, adorned with colourful floral arrangements, presented a divine spectacle that drew the admiration of devotees. The combination of elaborate decorations and sacred rituals lent a uniquely spiritual ambience to the shrine.
With the closure of the Gangotri Temple, the winter worship of Goddess Ganga will now continue at her maternal home in Mukhba village, where devotees will have the opportunity to offer prayers and seek her blessings over the next six months until the reopening of the Himalayan shrine next pilgrimage season.
