Following a six-month winter sojourn at her maternal place, the Goddess Ganga was given an emotional send off amid traditional rituals and prayers from Mukhba to Gangotri on Thursday.
Devotees carried the palanquin on the Goddess from Mukhba at 1 pm after special prayers were offered at the temple. The palanquin of Goddess Ganga was accompanied by the palanquin of Goddess Annapurna.
The temple priest and head of the Gangotri temple committee Bhageshwar Prasad Semwal said that the palanquins of the Goddesses will reach Gangotri on Friday after staying overnight at Bhairon ki Ghati. The portals of the Gangotri temple are slated to be reopened for the public on Friday noon. The Yamunotri shrine will also reopen to the public on Friday which will also mark the start of the Char Dham yatra.