Badrinath shrine reopens after six months

Portals of the Badrinath temple situated in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand reopened on Thursday after remaining closed for six months due to heavy snow. Devotees from far and near assembled at the temple to take part in the day-long opening rituals and witnessed the opening of doors that they consider auspicious. A notable event is the viewing the Akhand Jyoti (eternal flame of an oil lamp) placed inside the temple when the doors are closed in November. Sans any one feeding the oil and arranging the wick, Hindus believe that it is a divine miracle this flame continues to be lit for six long months.

"Today (Thursday), when the door opened, the Akhand Jyoti was lit and burning as ever. The most pious and important thing is to see the Akhand Jyoti . Those who visit today and watch this are blessed with good fortune in life," said Krishan Kant, a priest. "I have come here to visit this holy shrine. It has a special place in the Hindu faith. The almighty fulfills everybody's wishes. God Badri stays here and whenever I come here, I gain peace of mind and contentment," said Arun Soni, a devotee. For centuries, the Namboodris (Hindu Brahmins from Kerala) have been the official priests at Badrinath Dham and only the head priest can touch the temple deity. Located on the banks of River Alaknanda, this ancient temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Earlier, on Tuesday, nearly after six-months of winter break, portals of Kedarnath shrine, an abode of Lord Shiva nestling in Garhwal Himalayas. Amid chanting of vedic hymns and shalokas, the chief priest of the temple threw open the doors of the temple at 7 a.m. as scores of pilgrims had darshan of Shiva Lingam at Kedar temple situated in the hilly Rudraprayag district.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was among the first ones to have darshan of the temple. The portals of Badrinath shrine opened for public on Wednesday.

On Sunday (May 16), the Chardham yatra comprising pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri was kicked off with the reopening of portals of both Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines.

Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines are situated at a height of 3200 meter and 3615 meter, respectively, in Uttarkashi district, while Badrinath is located in Chamoli district at a height of 3133 meter. Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district is at a height of 3584 meter. The Chardham yatra is considered as the backbone of the thriving religious tourism in the state which attracts nearly 15-16 lakh pilgrims every year from country and abroad. The state government has taken various steps for smooth conduct of yatra and directed all the departments concerned to work in tandem during the period.