Uttarakhand: Badrinath reopens with grand traditional ceremony by holy priest

The portals of Badrinath temple in the Garhwal Himalayan range of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district were thrown open to pilgrims on Friday after a six-month-long winter break. The doors of the Lord Badrinath shrine decorated with flowers were reopened for pilgrims at 4.15 am after a grand traditional ceremony in the presence of priests and scores of devotees. "The portals of the temple were opened sharp at 4.15 am. Now, Lord Badrinath will remain in his abode for six months," shrine priest Vishweshar Prasad told ANI.

The temple, which is located at a height of over 10,000 feet in the Garhwal hills, is among the four Char Dham shrines which 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, had participated in rituals performed ahead of the reopening of the shrine. The gates of the temple were closed on November 20 last year as the area became snow-bound.

(With inputs from agencies.)