The revered Char Dham temples of Uttarakhand -- Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath -- will close their doors in the coming days, marking the end of the 2024 pilgrimage season. Gangotri, dedicated to Goddess Ganga, will be the first to close its doors on Saturday.
These shrines remain closed for nearly six months each year due to harsh winter conditions and reopen in April or May.
The doors of Gangotri will close on Saturday at 12:14 P.M., aligning with the Annakoot festival. The Gangotri Temple Committee's Secretary, Suresh Semwal, confirmed that the timing follows ancient customs and many devotees are expected to attend the final ceremonies.
On November 3, Yamunotri, honouring Goddess Yamuna, and Kedarnath, dedicated to Lord Shiva, will close, coinciding with Bhai Dooj.
Notably, Kedarnath Temple was decorated with more than ten quintals of flowers by the temple committee and donors for Diwali and for the ceremony related to the closing of the doors.
Traditionally, these timings are set during the Dussehra festival. The temples will reopen once winter ends.
Badrinath, the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, will conclude its pilgrimage season on November 17 at 9:07 P.M. This date was chosen on Vijayadashami, based on traditional celestial alignments.
Several other significant shrines in Uttarakhand will also close for the winter -- Rudranath on October 17, Tungnath on November 4, and Madhyamaheshwar on November 20. Additionally, the doors of Bhakunta Bhairavnath, the protector of Kedarnath were closed on October 29.
These closures help preserve the temples and surrounding areas during winter, and they will be ready to welcome devotees again in 2025 after the winter ends.
The Char Dham Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage in India, attracts thousands of devotees who journey in a clockwise sequence through Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath each year.
The seasonal closures ensure that these holy sites remain safeguarded through the winter, allowing for a fresh start in the next pilgrimage season.
Their sacrifice shining example of valour, commitment to one’s values: PM Modi's tribute to Sahibzades
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, paid tributes to Sahibzades on the occasion of Veer Baal Diwas and prayed that they always "guide us towards building a more just and compassionate society".
Netanyahu warns Houthis as Israel reportedly mulls new airstrike
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Houthi forces in Yemen would face consequences similar to those experienced by other anti-Israel groups.
Andhra CM Naidu meets PM Modi, seeks special financial assistance
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some Central ministers including Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi on Wednesday, seeking special financial assistance from the Centre.
IMD and TU signs MoU for indigenous lightning detection system development
In a significant step towards enhancing India's capabilities in weather monitoring and research, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Department of Physics, Tripura University.
Tripura Chief Minister hails Officers for promoting transparency in governance
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today said that officers in the state government are playing a key role in making the administration corruption-free which is an example of Good Governance.
NEC Plenary to usher development for Tripura: CM
Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today said that the recently held Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) will greatly benefit the state and other North Eastern states; as such meetings will bring more development works to this region.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seizes drug items worth Rs 56.525 Cr this December; 15 persons detained
In a major crackdown on the smuggling and trafficking of contraband narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) carried out a focused operation in the month of December 2024 in the North Eastern Region.
CPI(M) opts for young leaders in Tripura, chooses 87 pc new faces in divisional committees
Around 87 per cent of new faces were elected as secretaries in the CPI(M)’s Divisional Committees in Tripura replacing old guards, a party leader said here on Tuesday.