Dateline Dehradun: The announcement of the dates for the closure of the Chardham was announced on Vijayadashami. Kedarnath will be the first to close its portal on the auspicious occasion of Bhaiyuduj on 16th November at 8:30 am, followed by Badrinath, Vishnu’s abode, on 19th November at 3.35 pm.
Media in-charge, Devasthanam Board, Harish Gaur further elaborated that while Gangotri would close its portal a day after Diwali i.e. on the 15th of November, Yamnotri will follow a day later i.e. on 16th November coinciding with the closing of Kedarnath, Shiva’s abode.
Traditionally, the world-famous Chardham pilgrimage comes to a halt just before winter sets in and the shrines become inaccessible due to snow. Along with the famous-four i.e. Gangotri, Yamnotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath, the first to close its portals was the Sikh place of worship Hemkund Sahib. Close to a whooping six thousand five hundred pilgrims came visiting in just under a month that Hemkund Sahib was made accessible for. Situated at an elevation of 15,197 feet in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, Hemkund sahib has special reverence for the Sikh community.
Annually, the Chardham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand kick offs in the month of April/May and works in a west to east direction in a clockwise manner. It begins from Yamunotri onto Gangotri and then proceeds to Kedarnath, terminating at Badrinath.
Compared to last year, when the portals re-opened in the month of March a whooping seven lakh pilgrims made their way to the four-shrines including, Hemkund Sahib. This year, Covid-19 pandemic played spoil sport as due to the nation wide lockdown, not many pilgrims could make their way to the shrines situated in the inner Himalaya. Yet close to One Lakh Sixty Three Thousand pilgrims made the pilgrimage in 2020.
Following spring, on Basant Panchami the dates for the re-opening of the shrines will be announced as per ancient rites and rituals.
