Badrinath, Uttarakhand, 17 November 2024— Preparations are underway for the seasonal closure of the revered Sri Badrinath Temple, scheduled for 9:07 p.m. today. The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has adorned the temple with several quintals of marigold flowers, creating a vibrant display for the final day of the pilgrimage season.
This year, over 1.4 million devotees have visited the temple, seeking blessings from Lord Badri-Vishal. To accommodate the large gathering, the temple committee, alongside the army and various social organizations, has arranged a langar for the pilgrims. Kishore Singh Panwar, Vice President of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, confirmed that extensive preparations have been made for the ceremonial closure.
The process began on November 13 with Panch Puja and Ganesh Puja, followed by the closure of the Ganesh Temple. On subsequent days, the Adi Kedareshwar and Shankaracharya temples also closed their doors. Rituals like Kharag-pustak puja and Vedic recitations were concluded by November 15, and a special offering to Goddess Lakshmi took place on Saturday.
Pilgrims arriving at the temple expressed a sense of peace and fulfillment. Visitors such as Brijesh Joshi, Ekta, and Mohit shared their experiences, describing their visit as a spiritually enriching journey. The temple, open throughout the day for final darshan, is expected to see a large influx of devotees before it closes for the winter season.
