The portals of Gangotri shrine in Uttarkashi district were ceremonially closed for the public amid Vedic chantings on Thursday. The palanquin on Goddess Ganga also left for Mukhba where she resides during the winters.
Meanwhile, preparations are also reported to have been finalised for closing of the portals of Kedarnath and Yamunotri shrines on the occasion of Bhaiya Dooj on Friday.
A special worship of Goddess Ganga was conducted during the designated auspicious period in the Gangotri shrine on Thursday morning. The portals of this temple were ceremoniously closed to the public for the winters at about a quarter past one in the afternoon. At about 1:25 PM the palanquin on the goddess also departed for her winter abode at Mukhba. The palanquin will halt during the night at the Devi temple about four kilometers from Mukhba and then depart towards Mukhba on Friday morning.
At Mukhba, the goddess will be installed at the Ganga temple where devotees will be able to pay their obeisance to goddess Ganga during the six months the main shrine remains closed.
Meanwhile, in Rudraprayag district, arrangements are reported to have been completed for the closing of portals of the Kedarnath temple at 8 AM on the occasion of Bhaiya Dooj on Friday.
The palanquin on lord Kedarnath will depart on the same day for his winter abode in the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath. The portals of Yamunotri shrine in Uttarkashi district will also be closed to the public on Thursday at 11:30 am. The portals of Badrinath shrine are slated to be closed to the public on November 17 at 4:35 am.
It is pertinent to mention here that generally till now, the closure of the Char Dham shrines for the six months of winter is considered to be the close of the Char Dham Yatra period for the year.
However, the State Government is attempting to encourage people to visit the shrines where the presiding deities of the Char Dham shrines are kept and ceremoniously worshipped during the winters.