The ritual process of re-opening the portals of the Badrinath temple to the people starts every year two days before the occasion of Vasant Panchami. This year, Vasant Panchami falls on February 1.

Considering this, the pot used to contain the sesame oil applied on lord Badrinath, was carried from Pandukeshwar to Joshimath and onward to Narendranagar. The date of reopening of the Badrinath shrine to the public is declared following ritual ceremony at the palace of the erstwhile royal family of Tehri on the occasion of Vasant Panchami.

The sesame oil which is applied on the idol of lord Badrinath at the time of the portals being closed to the public for the winters, is kept at Pandukeshwar. Ahead of the occasion of Vasant Panchami, this oil pot is sent to Narendranagar. On Monday, this pot, known as Gadu Ghada, was brought from Pandukeshwar to Joshimath from where it was taken ahead towards Narendranagar.

It is stated that in the past, some people from the then royal court of Narendranagar used to come to Pandukeshwar to take the Gadu Ghada and considering the geographical condition and the quantity of snowfall recorded in the year, would then ritually reach upon the date on the occasion of Vasant Panchami for the reopening of the Badrinath temple for the public.

According to the tradition followed, the occasion of Vasant Panchami at present is marked by married women in the court of the erstwhile royal family of Tehri in Narendranagar would extract the sesame oil which is then put in the Gadu Ghada, which in turn is brought to Joshimath before the reopening of the portals of the Badrinath shrine. Along with the seat of the Shankaracharya, the Gadu Ghada is then taken from Joshimath to Badrinath temple township. This sesame oil is used to anoint the lord Badrinath every day.