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Badrinath shrine closes for winter break
Badrinath
(Uttrakhand),
Nov
18:
The
Badrinath
temple
situated
in
the
foothills
of
Garhwal
Himalayas
has
been
closed
for
winter,
as
a
part
of
its
tradition
of
remaining
open
for
six-months.
Scores of devotees queued up, as one of the most revered shrines in Uttarakhand prepared to close down for the next six months. The temple was closed late on Friday night amidst the chanting of Vedic incantations. It was an emotive moment for many devotees.
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"Past
six
months
we
witnessed
elaborate
rituals
taking
place
in
the
temple,
so
we
definitely
feel
bad
when
the
temple
doors
are
closing.
But
it
is
a
tradition
and
we
have
faith
in
it.
In
a
way
we
feel
good
that
we
are
maintaining
our
tradition
and
on
the
other
we
feel
bad
to
be
separated
from
our
beloved
god," said
Vinod
Kaparvan,
a
devotee.
"The specialty of the temple is that for six months humans pray to the God and for the next six months it is believed that Gods pray at the shrine," said head priest of the temple.
Situated in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand at a height of 10,284 meters above sea level, the shrine is visited by thousands of devotees every year. The shrine is located on the banks of the Alaknanda River and is dedicated to Lord Badri or Vishu.
The Badrinath shrine is one of the four holiest shrines in Garhwal Himalayas, the other three being -- Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri --, and closes for six months every year when the region is enveloped with snow.
With the closure of the portals of the Badrinath temple, the 'Chardham Yatra', pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines has come to an end for six months.
Kedarnath and Yamunotri shrines were closed on November 11, while the portals of Gangotri temple was closed last week. The portals of all the four shrines would now open after six months in April-May next year. Heavy security arrangements are made even during the period when the temple remains closed.
Besides soldiers of the Indian Army, personnel from the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are posted there to keep a strict guard around the shrine.
ANI
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