The Brahmakapal Teerth Purohit Panchayat has decided not to conduct Shraddh at Brahmakapal near Badrinath. This decision was taken to protest against the decision of the State Government and Char Dham Devsthanam Management Board to start the Char Dham Yatra from July 1.
The Teerth Purohits held a tele-conference on Tuesday to discuss the issue. It was decided that they will not undertake any ritual related to Shraddh at Brahmakapal. Spokesman Brijesh Sati informed that the Teerth Purohits had decided to oppose the Government’s decision to start the Char Dham Yatra from July 1.
He said that the Brahmakapal Teerth Purohit Panchayat is not bound to adhere to the decision of the Devsthanam board, adding that a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the board is being heard in the high court.
The members of the Panchayat decided that no Shraddh related ritual will be conducted by them at Brahmakapal till the situation returns to normal.
According to the Teerth Purohits, traditionally pilgrims visiting Badrinath first conduct Shraddha and Tarpan rituals for the salvation of their ancestors at Brahmakapal then pay their obeisance to lord Narayan in the form of Badrinath in the temple.
Considering this, they state that pilgrimage to Badrinath will be incomplete without the rituals at Brahmakapal.