Dehradun: This year, the doors of the Badrinath Dham, revered Char Dham shrine in Uttarakhand, will be closed for the winter season on Sunday, 17 November at 9:07 pm.
On the occasion of Vijay Dashami on Saturday, Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) President Ajendra Ajay has announced the date for the portal closing ceremony. He also expressed gratitude to all the departments, institutions, organizations associated with the Yatra.
Over 11 lakh pilgrims have reached Badrinath shrine
On this occasion, BKTC chief executive officer, Vijay Prasad Thapliyal informed the media that so far this year more than 11 lakh pilgrims have reached Badrinath shrine and over 13.5 lakh pilgrims have visited Kedarnath for darshan. In total, over 24 lakh pilgrims have visited Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines and around 38 lakh pilgrims have reached Uttarakhand for Char Dham pilgrimage.
Date was fixed by Badrinath chief priest Rawal Amarnath Namboodri
On the occasion of Vijayadashami, during the program to announce the closing date of the doors of Badrinath shrine, the date was finalised by Badrinath chief priest Rawal Amarnath Namboodri, BKTC Vice President Kishore Panwar and members, chief executive officer Vijay Prasad Thapliyal, officer-in-charge Vipin Tiwari, and the right holders and pilgrimage priests of Bamni, Pandukeshwar, and Mana villages.
On November 19, Badrinath shrine pilgrimage will come to an end
Additionally, the schedule for the departure of Dev Dolis to Yoga Badri Pandukeshwar and Narsimha temple Jyotirmath was also confirmed. BKTC media in-charge Dr. Harish Gaur announced that on Monday, November 18, Shri Uddhav Ji, Shri Kuber Ji, Rawal Amarnath Namboodri, and the throne of Adi Guru Shankaracharya Ji will arrive at Yoga Badri Pandukeshwar for an overnight stay. Shri Uddhav Ji and Shri Kuber Ji will remain in Pandukeshwar during the winter, while the throne of Adi Guru Shankaracharya Ji will be placed in the Narsimha temple premises on Tuesday, November 19. In this way, this year’s Badrinath Dham Yatra will also come to an end.
Doors of Kedarnath shrine will be closed on Bhaiya Dooj, 3 November
Traditionally, the doors of Kedarnath shrine close on Bhaiya Dooj after Diwali. This year, the doors will close on November 3 at 8:30 am. On the same day, the Panchmukhi Doli of Lord Kedarnath will depart for its first stop in Rampur (near Phata). On November 4, the Doli will reach Shri Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi. By November 5, it will be placed in the Panch Kedar at Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, for the winter season.
Doors of Gangotri shrine close on Annakut Puja, 2 November
It is also significant that on this day, the doors of Yamunotri shrine close, and a day before Bhaiya Dooj, during Annakut Govardhan Puja, the doors of Gangotri shrine close at Abhijit Muhurta. This year, on Bhaiya Dooj, Sunday, November 3, the doors of Yamunotri shrine will close at 12:03 pm. Annakoot Govardhan Puja is on Saturday, November 2, with the doors of Gangotri Dham closing at 12:04 pm during the auspicious muhurat. The doors of the second Kedar temple, Madyamaheshwar will close on November 20, and the doors of the third Kedar temple, Tungnath, will close on November 4.
