By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 24 Oct: The portals of the Badrinath Dham will be closed for winter on 18 November at 3:33 p.m. The time was decided and announced at a function organised at the Badrinath Temple Complex on the occasion of Vijaya Dashmi (Dusshera) in the presence of Chairman of Shri Badrinath – Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) Ajendra Ajay.
Ajay informed media that the function was held today at the Badrinath temple premises in the presence of religious leaders, Teerth Purohits, and others. The Day and Time for closing the portals for the winter season was fixed after due rituals and calculating the auspicious time by consulting the Panchang (Almanac). The date was then announced by Ajay. Thousands of devotees witnessed this ceremony today.
It is worth noting that, this year, the portals of Badrinath Dham were opened for devotees on 27 April for the season. During the current Yatra period, till now, a record 16 lakh devotees have had darshan of Lord Badri Vishal.
In addition, the date and time for closure of the famous Yamunotri Dham was also fixed and announced today during a function held at the temple premises in Kharsali Village, the winter abode of Mother Yamuna. As decided and later announced, the portals of Yamunotri Dham will be closed for six months on 15 November (Wednesday) on the holy festival of Bhaiyya Dooj, at 11:57 a.m. after special worship in Abhijeet Muhurta (Makar Lagna or Sagittarius Ascendent).
The date and time of closing of the portals of Gangotri Dham had been fixed and announced on the first day of Shardiya Navratri. It may be recalled that the portals of Gangotri Dham will be closed for the winter season on 14 November at the auspicious time of Abhijeet Muhurta on the holy festival of Annakoot at 11.45 a.m. On 15 November, Bhaiya Dooj, the portals of Kedarnath Dham in addition to those of Yamunotri Dham will also be closed for the winter.
The dates of closure of the portals of Second Kedar Lord Madmaheshwar and Tunganath Temple have also been announced. The portals of Madmaheshwar Temple will be closed for winter on 22 November. The auspicious time was determined at a meeting held at Omkareshwar Temple, the winter abode of Lord Kedar located in Ukhimath.
As per tradition, special worship of Second Kedar started at Omkareshwar temple from 8 a.m. Along with the adornment, anointment and offerings to the Deity, the learned Acharyas calculated the auspicious panchang (almanac) and announced date and time of closing the portals for the winter season. At the same time, the date and time for closure of Tungnath shrine was also announced today. The portals of Tungnath Temple will be closed on 1 November. Tungnath closes early due to heavy snowfall every year as it is the highest Shiva temple in the world and witnesses early snowfall every year. Special worship also started from 8 a.m. in the Markateswar Temple, the winter abode of Lord Tunganath. This year, so far, a record number of devotees have reached the temple to have darshan of the Lord Tungnath.
