Badrinath shrine portals open for summer pilgrimage

The portals of Badrinath temple in the Garhwal Himalayan range of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district were opened to pilgrims on Friday after a six-month-long winter break. The portals of the temple were opened sharp at 4:15 am. The temple, which is located at a height of over 10,000 feet in the Garhwal hills, is among the four Char Dham shrines including Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath.

Badrinath (Uttarakhand):The portals of Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district were opened to the pilgrims on Friday after a six-month-long winter break when the seat of the deity was shifted to the lower Himalayas.

The Badrinath shrine portals decorated with flowers were opened for the pilgrims at 4.15 am after a traditional ceremony in the presence of priests and scores of devotees.

"The portals of the temple were opened sharp at 4:15 am as calendar schedule as time is a most important aspect of the ceremony. Now, Lord Badrinath will remain in his abode for six months," shrine priest Vishweshar Prasad told media.

The temple, which is located at a height of over 10,000 feet in the Garhwal hills, is among the four Char Dham shrines that include Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath in Uttarakhand.

The Chardham yatra attracts lakhs of tourists and devotees every year from across the country and abroad.

Adequate electricity, water, health and safety arrangements have been made by the Uttarakhand tourism department.

"Pilgrims who visited the temple today got a chance to view the holy Akhand Jyoti. The administration has made shelter, water and sanitation arrangements for the devotees," Badrinath MLA Mahendra Bhatt said.

On April 24, BJP MP Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of the state, took part in rituals performed ahead of the reopening of the shrine.

The temple portals were closed on November 20 last year for winter and seat of the deity was shifted to another location as a part of the tradition to ensure continuity of the pilgrimage.