The preparations have begun in full swing for opening of the portals of the world- renowned Badrinath Dham. As part of the hoary tradition, the married women smeared the idols with oil made of til seeds at 9.30 am on Thursday after a special worship of lord Badrinath was conducted at Rajmahal of Narendranagar in the presence of the erstwhile royal family members.
Sampurnanand Joshi, Krishna Prasad and Hetram Thapliyal took part in the puja of lord Badrinath. The ‘Gadu Ghada’ (the sacred pitcher) was sent off late evening for Rishikesh. Thereafter, Maharani and the MP from Teri Mala Rajya lakshmi Shah pressed til oil (sesame oil) on the idols.
later, 60 other married women followed suit. Maharaja Manujendra Shah smeared the ‘Gadu Ghada’ with the oil and traditionally handed it over to the Badrinath Dharmik Kendriya Panchayat.