Preparations have begun for the ceremonial event held on the occasion of Vasant Panchami to finalise the date for the reopening of the Badrinath temple.
The Gadu Ghada used in the ritualistic traditions related to Badrinath, was brought from Pandukeshwar to Joshimath on Wednesday. According to tradition, after its arrival in Joshimath, members of the Dimmar Panchayat ceremoniously send it off to the Dimmar village.
This Gadu Ghada reaches Narendranagar on the day of Vasant Panchami. Here, it is used as container for the sesame oil prepared by the married ladies of Narendranagar.
This ceremonial pot with the sesame oil is brought to Badrinath on the day when the shrine is reopened to the public after being kept closed for six months of winter. It is this sesame oil which is rubbed on the idol of lord Badrinath here.
It is said that in the past, some Dimri Brahmins used to reach Pandukeshwar before reopening of the Badrinath temple’s portals. From here they used to relay information to the king of the erstwhile Tehri royal family regarding the condition of the route to the Badrinath shrine. Following this, the date for reopening of the Badrinath shrine used to be declared on the occasion of Vasant Panchami by the erstwhile king of Tehri. It is said that historically, in the year when the snowfall received was more than usual the date for reopening of the shrine used to be deferred accordingly.
It should be mentioned here that during the period when the portals of the Badrinath shrine are closed to the public, the Gadu Ghada is kept in Pandukeshwar. Some days ahead of the occasion of Vasant Panchami, some members of the Dimri community carry this pitcher from Pandukeshwar to the Narsinh temple in Joshimath. After various ceremonial rites are held with it in Joshimath, the pot is then carried to the village of Dimmar. From here the ceremonial vessel is brought to Narendranagar a day ahead of the date for declaration of the Badrinath shrine reopening date. Here, in the court of the erstwhile king of Tehri, married ladies prepare sesame oil which is then put in the Gadu Ghada. The ceremonial pitcher is then again carried to the Dimmar village from Narendranagar. later, some days before the declared date for reopening of the Badrinath temple, it is ceremonially sent off to Pandukeshwar along with the seat of the Shankaracharya and the Rawal (chief priest). On the following day, the procession is set off towards Badrinath along with the ceremonial palanquins of Kuber and Uddhav from Pandukeshwar. After going through various traditional rituals and other activities, it is the sesame oil in this ceremonial pitcher which is rubbed on the idol of lord Badrinath.