Wednesday, 19 May 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
The Badrinath shrine was ritually reopened for the summer amidst Vedic chants here in Chamoli district early on Tuesday morning. Rituals began at 3 AM after which the shrine was ceremoniously opened at 4:15 AM. The temple was decorated with about 20 quintals of flowers for the occasion.
Earlier, as the rituals began in the wee hours, Kuber reached the temple compound via the Lakshmi Dwar from Bamni village while Uddhav entered from the main entrance. After the portals of the shrine were opened, the limited numbers of priests and others witnessed the Akhand Jyoti- which continues to burn during the six months when the shrine is closed. After the shrine was opened, the Rawal, Ishvari Prasad Namboodari entered the sanctum sanctorum and taking the goddess Lakshmi from there, installed her ceremoniously in the Lakshmi temple. After that, Uddhav, the companion of lord Badrinath and Kuber, the treasurer of the Devatas were installed in the sanctum sanctorum. The Abhishek of the lord and his Shringar was done after his Nirvan Darshan. The first Mahabhishek after reopening of Badrinath was done on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with prayers for the welfare and good health of the people. It is pertinent to mention here that due to the Covid guidelines in place, only a limited number of people were present in Badrinath on the occasion. Chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat greeted the people on the occasion and wished for the good health of all. He reiterated that people should offer their prayers from home.
The State’s Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Mahraaz expressed happiness at the reopening of Badrinath shrine. He said that the Char Dham Yatra will be started once the Covid-19 pandemic is overcome.
The Garhwal commissioner and chief executive officer of the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board, Ravinath Raman expressed happiness at all the Char Dham shrines having been reopened. Stating that pilgrims are currently now allowed to visit the Char Dham shrines due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the pilgrimage will be started in a phased manner once the situation returns to normal.
The Devasthanam Board additional CEO, BD Singh informed that the board had sanitised the temple compound, bus terminal and reception office along with residences. The Covid guidelines including thermal scanning, wearing of masks and observance of social distancing were adhered to during the ritual reopening of the Badrinath temple, he added.
The board’s media in-charge Harish Gaur informed that all the Char Dham shrines are now open. The portals of the Tritiya Kedar- Tungnath and Chaturth Kedar- Rudranath were also reopened on May 17 while the portals of Dwitiya Kedar- Madmaheshwar will be opened on May 24.
