CM Dhami performs puja on opening day at Badrinath Dham
Garhwal Post Bureau
Chamoli, 23 Apr: The portals of Badrinath Temple were ceremonially opened for devotees at 6:15 a.m. with traditional rituals and Vedic chants, marking the beginning of the summer pilgrimage season at Badrinath Dham. As the doors of the revered shrine opened, the entire Badrinath Dham resonated with deep devotion and spiritual fervour, with more than 15,000 devotees from across the country and abroad thronging the temple to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Badri Vishal and have darshan of the Akhand Jyoti. It may be recalled that the portals of other three dhams which are part of the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, namely Yamunotri, Gangotri and Kedarnath have already opened for the season.
On the auspicious occasion of the opening of the portals of Badrinath Dham, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performed the first Mahabhishek puja in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He prayed for the prosperity, well-being and happiness of the nation and the state. The CM also offered prayers at various shrines within the temple complex, including Lakshmi Temple, Ganesh Temple and the Adi Guru Shankaracharya gaddi, following all the duly prescribed rituals.
Interacting with pilgrims who had arrived at the shrine on this occasion, Dhami extended a warm welcome to them and sought their feedback on the arrangements for the yatra. He stated that the state government has made extensive preparations to ensure that the Char Dham Yatra is safe, smooth and well-organised. Emphasising that robust arrangements have been put in place at every level to ensure the comfort, safety and a positive experience for devotees, he also appealed to pilgrims from India and abroad to contribute towards a green and clean Char Dham Yatra and to actively support environmental conservation.
With the formal beginning of the Char Dham Yatra, Badrinath Dham witnessed a remarkable confluence of faith, tradition and efficient arrangements, promising a divine and memorable experience for pilgrims. The occasion also reflected the rich cultural heritage of the region, as women from Mana and Bamani villages presented traditional jagar performances and the vibrant Jhumeilo dance within the temple premises, adding a distinct folk charm to the spiritual atmosphere. Devotees from various parts of the country also participated in bhajan-kirtan, immersing the entire area in devotional harmony.
On this occasion, the CM also inaugurated a community langar at the shrine by cutting the ribbon and partook of prasad along with devotees. He interacted with the organisers to review the arrangements and appreciated the efforts of the Manav Seva Ishwar Seva Utthan Samiti for organising a large-scale Bhandara, describing such initiatives as a true embodiment of service to humanity.
Among those present on the occasion were District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, SP Surjit Singh Panwar, Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee CEO Vishal Mishra, Vice-Chairman Rishi Prasad Sati, Rawal Amarnath Namboodiri, Chief Administrative Officer Girish Chauhan, Temple Officer Rajendra Chauhan, Naib Rawal Suryaraj Namboodiri, Dharmadhikari Swayambar Semwal, Vedpathi Ravindra Bhatt, Acharya Vani Vilas Dimri, along with several other dignitaries and a large number of devotees.
