Delhi
The revered Char Dham pilgrimage sites of Uttarakhand—Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath—are gearing up to close their doors for the winter season.
Each year, the Char Dham temples of Uttarakhand close their doors for nearly six months, yielding to the harsh winter conditions that blanket the region. As the pilgrimage season winds down, the revered Gangotri temple will mark its closing on Saturday at precisely 12:14 PM, in harmony with the Annakoot festival.
A large number of devotees are expected to gather for the final ceremonies.
Following Gangotri, both Yamunotri, which honors Goddess Yamuna, and Kedarnath, dedicated to Lord Shiva, will close on November 3, coinciding with the festival of Bhai Dooj. This year, Kedarnath Temple has been particularly adorned, featuring over ten quintals of flowers arranged by the temple committee and generous donors, celebrating Diwali alongside the closing ceremony.
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The closing dates for these sacred sites are traditionally established during the Dussehra festival, with plans for reopening set for April or May when the winter chill begins to recede. Badrinath, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, will conclude its pilgrimage season later on November 17 at 9:07 PM, a date thoughtfully chosen based on celestial alignments corresponding with Vijayadashami.
Other important shrines in Uttarakhand are also preparing for winter closures: Rudranath has already closed on October 17, Tungnath will follow on November 4, and Madhyamaheshwar will shut its doors on November 20. Additionally, the doors of Bhakunta Bhairavnath, the guardian of Kedarnath, were closed on October 29.
These seasonal closures play a vital role in preserving the temples and their surrounding areas during the frigid winter months, ensuring that they are prepared to welcome devotees anew in 2025. The Char Dham Yatra, a revered pilgrimage that attracts thousands each year, follows a clockwise route through Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. As these holy sites retreat for the winter, they safeguard their sanctity, paving the way for a fresh start come the next pilgrimage season.
