The official date for closing the portals of Lord Badri Vishal in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district has been announced. On the auspicious festival of Vijayadashami, the head priest Rawal ji declared that the temple gates will be shut for the winter recess on November 16 at 9:37 PM during the Kark Lagna. This religious ceremony also marks the conclusion of the summer pilgrimage across the four Dhams in the state.
Traditional Announcement and Turban Ceremony
Following age-old traditions, the closing date is invariably announced on Vijayadashami each year. A grand festive atmosphere prevailed inside the temple complex on this day, with residents of Bamani village arriving dressed in their traditional attire. A unique ritual is also performed during this occasion where designated individuals who will manage the pilgrimage arrangements for the upcoming year are honored with turbans. Four representatives are chosen from the Bhandari thok, Mehta thok, and Bhatt thok of Pandukeshwar and Bamani villages. The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee officially confers the responsibility of managing the temple premises upon them through these turbans, while villagers gather inside the assembly hall during the announcement.
Step-by-Step Closure Rituals at the Shrine
The formal closure process at Badrinath Dham unfolds through a sequence of rituals leading up to the final day. The doors of Lord Shri Ganesha will be closed on November 12. Following this, the portals of Adi Kedareshwar ji will be shut on November 13. On November 14, the reading of the Khadg-Pustak and Vedic scriptures will come to a halt. As part of the proceedings on November 15, Mata Lakshmi ji will be formally invited to take her seat inside the sanctum sanctorum. Finally, on November 16 at 9:37 PM, the main portals will be locked for the winter season.
Pilgrim Footfall Breaks All Previous Records
The current year's pilgrimage to Badrinath has shattered all historical visitor records. So far, roughly 2.1 million devotees have offered prayers and had darshan of Lord Badri Vishal, representing the highest figure ever recorded. With roughly 27 to 28 days still remaining before the portals officially close, authorities expect this remarkable visitor count to climb even higher.
