By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Chamoli/ Dehradun, 2 Oct: The dates for the closure of the portals of Badrinath and Kedarnath Dhams for the winter season were announced today on the occasion of Dussehra. The Badri-Kedar Temple Committee, along with the Teerth Purohit community declared today that the portals of Badri Vishal will close on 25 November at 2:56 p.m. for a six-month winter period. The closure date for Badrinath Dham was formally declared today on Dusshera during an auspicious muhurta.
Similarly, it was also confirmed that portals of Kedarnath Dham will close on 23 October, coinciding with the festival of Bhaiya Dooj, in accordance with astrological calculations and Panchang (Hindu Almanac) traditions. After the closure of the portals, the sacred palanquins of Lord Badrinath and Lord Kedarnath will proceed to their respective winter seats. It may be reminded here that the Doli of Lord Badri Vishal resides at Vasudev Temple, Joshimath, while Lord Baba Kedar has winter abode at Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, where regular winter worship will continue through the winter season.
As is the tradition, the portals of Yamunotri will also close on 23 October on the occasion of Bhaiya Dooj at 12:30 p.m., while the closure of Gangotri Dham has been scheduled for 22 October during the festival of Annakoot at the Abhijit Muhurta at 11:36 a.m. Thereafter, Darshan of Maa Ganga will be available at her winter abode in Mukhba village, and Darshan of Maa Yamuna will be available at her winter residence in Kharsali village.
The Yamunotri Temple Committee today announced that the portals of the shrine will be closed on 23 October at 12:30 p.m. in the propitious period of Dhan Lagna Amrit Vela, with rituals conducted as per Vishakha Nakshatra and Ayushman Yoga. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Purohit community on Dussehra at Kharsali village, the winter seat of Maa Yamuna. Devotees were informed that during the winter months, worship will be performed at the Yamuna Temple in Kharsali. Earlier, in the morning of the day of closure of the portals, the palanquin of Someshwar Maharaj Shanidev, revered as the brother of Maa Yamuna, will depart for Yamunotri to escort the goddess. Among those present on the occasion were Purushottam Uniyal, spokesperson of the Yamunotri Temple Committee, along with Sunil Uniyal, Vijay Prakash, Pradeep Uniyal, Sanjiv Uniyal, Raghavanand Uniyal, Kriteshwar Uniyal, Mahavir Prasad, Manmohan Uniyal, Suresh Uniyal, Divyanshu Uniyal, Narayan Uniyal, and others.
It may be recalled that this year, the Char Dham Yatra had begun on 30 April with the opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri, followed by the portals of Kedarnath on 2 May and of Badrinath on 4 May. Since then, the pilgrimage has witnessed largely a good turnout of devotees. At Gangotri, 7,05,492 pilgrims had offered Darshan to Maa Ganga by 7 p.m. yesterday. Yamunotri recorded 6,04,434 devotees till last evening. Kedarnath Dham, which opened on 2 May, has seen the highest footfall with 16,02,420 pilgrims offering prayers to Baba Kedarnath. Badrinath Dham, which opened on 4 May, has been visited by 14,15,864 devotees, so far.
In addition to the four shrines, 2,67,664 devotees have also visited Hemkund Sahib. Altogether, 46,04,976 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Char Dhams and Hemkund Sahib this year until 1 October.
