Badrinath Dham Portals to Close for Winter on November 16
The portals of Badrinath Dham will close for the winter season on November 16. Learn more about the timings and the significance of Bhu Baikunth.
The doors of the revered Badrinath Dham, widely known as 'Bhu Baikunth,' are set to close for the winter season. Temple authorities have officially announced that the portals will shut on November 16 at 9:37 PM, marking the end of the annual pilgrimage cycle for this year.
The Significance of Badrinath Dham
Dedicated to Lord Badri Vishal, this sacred Himalayan shrine is a primary destination for lakhs of devotees who undertake the Char Dham Yatra every year. For Vaishnavites, Badrinath holds immense spiritual importance as one of the 108 divya desams, representing the incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
The town of Badrinath is not just home to the main temple but is part of the Panch Badri circuit, which includes four other holy sites:
- Yog Dhyan Badri
- Bhavishya Badri
- Adi Badri
- Vriddha Badri
Architecture of the Temple
The Badrinath temple is structurally divided into three distinct sections to facilitate worship and gathering:
- Garbha Griha: The sanctum sanctorum where the deity resides.
- Darshan Mandap: The area where the sacred rituals are performed.
- Sabha Mandap: The assembly hall where pilgrims gather for prayers.
Winter Transition in the Himalayas
The closing ceremony is a seasonal necessity due to the extreme weather conditions that grip the higher altitudes of Uttarakhand during winter. The heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures make the shrine inaccessible, leading to the annual closure until the portals reopen in the spring.
Tragedy on the Pilgrimage Route
While devotees prepare for the closing dates, the region recently witnessed a tragic incident on the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway. Earlier in October, a taxi traveling from Chandigarh plunged into a deep gorge near Pali Pulia.
According to Pankaj Bhatt, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kirti Nagar, five people were in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Two passengers died on the spot, while three others were rescued. The rescue operation was carried out by the police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team from Chakrata, led by Sub-Inspector Jaspal Singh. The vehicle was found approximately 35 metres below the road level.