Saturday, 29 October 2022 | Vinod Chamoli | New Tehri
Applicants to continue spiritual practices in the sacred Himalayan regions after permission
Three of the four Char Dham shrines- Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath have been closed to the public for the winter while Badrinath is also set to be closed to the public in November. Extreme cold, considerable snow, inaccessibility and conditions unfavorable for human survival prevent people from visiting these areas during the winter. While most human activities stop in these places during the winter, some ascetics spend their winter continuing austerities in these sacred mountainous regions. A total of 62 ascetics have stayed behind in these three regions and have applied for permission to remain there during the winters.
The portals of Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath temples were recently closed to the public and the traders, Teerth Purohits along with government and private employees have left these places for the lower altitudes. However, about 62 ascetics have stayed back and are practicing various devotional and Yogic pursuits. The natural environment, religious and spiritual energy in these locations favours their external and internal practices. This is the reason why sages and Sanyasis are eager to undertake penance here.
In the past, many famous and learned saints have lived in caves or huts in the Gangotri valley including Swami Shivanand, Acharya Shriram Sharma, Swami Sundaranand, Tapovani Mata and Mahesh Yogi among others. Many years ago as a seeker, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also spent time in the Kedarnath region. There are still many ancient caves in these regions where the Sadhus perform extreme penance. From 1980-90, many seekers were seen here, but gradually the number has reduced over the years. Now 62 Sadhus are practicing their penance amid the silence and grandeur of the Himalaya in Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath regions.
Bhatwadi sub divisional magistrate Chhatar Singh Chauhan said that this time about 55 ascetics have applied to remain in Gangotri during the winter for spiritual practices. The Ukhimath SDM Jitender Verma said that six ascetics have applied to remain in the Kedarnath area during the winter. According to Uttarkashi police only one ascetic has applied to remain in Yamunotri during the winter.
According to officials, the applicants will be granted permission to spend the winter in the sought locations after police verification and other formalities.
