Portals of Badrinath shrine opens amid Covid-19 guidelines
On Tuesday, Badrinath Temple that is also known as Badrinath Dham, reopened with government coronavirus guidelines.
The rituals were performed on 04:15 am at the Brahm Muhurta. Only few priests and temple guards were present because of the Covid-19 restrictions. The shrine was decorated with 20 quintals of flowers.
The Badri-Kedar Pushp Seva Samiti and the Timri Panchayat representatives carried the holy oil pitcher from Rajmahal to the shrine. Badarinath, one of the holy shrines for Vaishnavites, is among the 108 incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat congratulated all devotees on the opening of the portals and asked them to offer prayers from their homes.
भगवान विष्णु के आठवें बैकुंठ बदरीनाथ धाम के कपाट आज ब्रह्म मुहुर्त में 4.15 मिनट पर विधि-विधान और धार्मिक अनुष्ठान के बाद कपाटोद्घाटन किया गया। जनता के स्वास्थ्य की सुरक्षा राज्य सरकार की प्राथमिकता है। मैं भगवान बदरी विशाल से प्रदेशवासियों की आरोग्यता की कामना करता हूं। pic.twitter.com/2TBts0WArR
— Tirath Singh Rawat (@TIRATHSRAWAT) May 18, 2021
He took to Twitter and posted a video of the reopening of the Badrinath Temple. ”The safety of people is a priority for the state government. I pray for the health of the people…,” he tweeted in Hindi.
The first prayers were held on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the welfare and good health of the country. The portals of all the Char Dhams, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri, are now open.
“The puja and offerings will go on as usual under the leadership of Shri Ishwari Prasad Namboodari and Dharmadhikari Shri Bhuvan Chand Uniyal, the chief priests of Badrinath Dham”, the Chief Minister wrote.
He added, ”Chardham Yatra is temporarily postponed due to the coronavirus epidemic. I request all of you to worship at home…Best wishes to all of you on the reopening of Shri Badrinath Dham.”
Last year, the portals of the Badrinath shrine were closed in November for the winter months following traditional rituals and safety protocols for Covid-19.
Last year also, Char Dham yatra could not begin on schedule because of the lockdown imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19.
On July 1 last year, the shrines were opened for local pilgrims and for those from other states in the last week of that month.