Tuesday, 16 November 2021 | PNS | Joshimath
The shrine is closing for winters on Nov 20
The process of the closure of the portals of the Badrinath temple would start from Tuesday with the initiation of Panch Pujas (Five prayers). These prayers are part of the centuries old tradition of the temple. On November 16, the Panch Puja would start with the prayer of Lord Ganesha. On November 17, the gates of the Adi Kedareshwar temple would be closed with prayers. On November 18, Khadak Pustak Pujan would be held. On November 19, prayers would be offered to Goddess Laxmi and thereafter she would be taken to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple where she would be placed besides Lord Narayan.
On November 20, the moving idols of the Kuber and Udhav would be brought along with the Narayan. The idol of Laxmi would be placed near Narayan and the portals of the Badrinath shrine would be closed for winters. On November 21 the Doli of Udhav ji and Kuber ji and the Gaddhi Yatra of Adi Shankaracharya would arrive at Pandukeshwar. Here the Udhav and Kuber would be placed in Yog Dhyan temple while the Gaddhi of Adi Shankaracharya would be taken ceremoniously in the procession led by Rawal along with the idols of Narayan and Laxmi to Narsingh temple of Joshimath which is the winter abode of the deity.
On Monday a total of 1395 pilgrims visited the Badrinath shrine. A total of 1,79,235 pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at Badrinath this season.
