BADRINATH, April 23: The portals of the Badrinath Temple were opened to devotees on Thursday at 6:15 am, marking the beginning of the annual summer pilgrimage season and a key phase of the Char Dham Yatra.
The opening ceremony was conducted in line with established traditions, accompanied by Vedic chants and customary rituals. Soon after the doors were opened, a large number of pilgrims gathered at the shrine, with officials estimating that around 15,000 devotees from across India and abroad attended the occasion.
Devotees participated in darshan of Lord Badri Vishal and the Akhand Jyoti, regarded as a symbol of the shrine’s eternal spiritual presence.
On the occasion, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performed the first Mahabhishek Puja in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering prayers for the well-being, prosperity and stability of the nation and the state.
During his visit, the Chief Minister also offered prayers at other shrines within the temple complex, including the Lakshmi Temple, Ganesh Temple and the shrine dedicated to Adi Shankaracharya.
The reopening of the temple is a major religious event each year, drawing thousands of pilgrims during the summer months as part of the Char Dham pilgrimage.
