Char Dham Yatra Ends – Badrinath Temple is closed for Winter

The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand came to end with closure of the Badrinath Temple. ChardhamYatra comprises of pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Badrinath Dham is opened and closed as per the auspicious time defined by astrologers and temple priests. Badrinath's closing date is decided on the occasion of Vijaya Dashmi and the opening day on the occasion of Basant Panchami.

The Badrinath Shrine usually opens in April or May for six months of pilgrimage. Devotees patiently wait for the six month pilgrimage period to have the darshan of Lord Badrinath.

The closing ceremony at Badrinath Temple is marked by the presentation of a woolen ‘choli.’ The choli is exclusively woven by the girls of Mana Village in Uttarakhand. Mana is the last Indian village near the Indo-Tibetan border.

The choli presented by the Mana village girls is placed on the one-meter-high finely sculpted black stone idol of Lord Badrinath before the temple is closed. It is taken off on the day the temple reopens and its fibers are distributed among the devotees. Devotees throng in large numbers to receive this Mahaprasadam.

Throughout the winter season, the ‘Utsav Murti' (idol used for public functions and to move around the temple) of Lord Badrinath is worshipped in Narasimha Temple at Joshimath. The idol is taken to the Narashimha Temple on a doli (palanquin) in a colorful procession. The priests of Badrinath Temple continue to perform the rituals on the ‘Utsav Murti’ at Narasimha temple during the winter season.

The one-meter-high finely sculpted black stone idol of Badrinath seated in a meditative pose (padmasan) is not removed the temple.

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