Saturday, 01 May 2021 | PNS | New Tehri
Though the Char Dham shrines will not open to pilgrims in the immediate future, the rituals associated with the reopening of Badrinath have begun. The sesame seed oil applied to the idol of the lord in Badrinath has reached Dimmar village after being ritually extracted.
On Thursday, oil was extracted from sesame seeds in the palace of the erstwhile royal family in Tehri in Narendranagar. Married ladies of the house wearing yellow Saris performed the ritual. The oil extraction was held in the presence of Tehri MP Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah. The extracted oil was heated in a container with special herbs under the supervision of the family priest Sampoornanand Joshi. Later, after offering ritual prayers, the oil urn was taken by the priests to Dimmar village.
The oil urn will now be worshipped at Srilaxmi Narayan Temple in Dimmar village till May 14. The oil urn will leave for Badrinath on May 15 and reach Badrinath on May 17. The portals of Badrinath shrine will be opened at 4.15 AM on May 18 after which the oil urn will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine.
