Dehradun: The annual pilgrimage to Chardham
comprising Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri ended
on Tuesday with the closure of portals of Badrinath for the winter
period.
Main priest of Badrinath temple, perched in dizzying
heights of Garhwal Himalayas locked the doors after Vedic
rituals were held at 1540 hours in the presence of senior
administrative and police officials, said Chairman of
Badrinath Kedarnath temple committee Suratram Nautiyal.
Thousands of pilgrims were also present to witness the
closing ceremony braving chilly winds blowing outside the
temple.
While, the portals of Kedarnath and Yamunotri were closed
on October 19 on the occasion of Bhaiyya Duj, Gangotri temple
was closed on October 17.
Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines are situated at a height
of 3,200 and 4,421 meters respectively in Uttarkashi district,
while Badrinath is located in Chamoli district at a height of
3,133 meters and Kedarnath is situated in Rudraprayag district
at a height of 3,581 meters.
The Chardham yatra is considered as the backbone of the
thriving religious tourism in Uttarakhand that attracts lakhs
of pilgrims every year from home and abroad.
The portals of chardham remain closed from November to
April, as the area remains snow-bound during the winters.
All the four shrines would now reopen for pilgrims after
a gap of six months in April-May next year.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 18:32