BADRINATH: The portals of Shri Badrinath Dham will be closed for the winter today at 2:56 PM on Tuesday.
Ahead of the closing, the temple has been decorated with 12 quintals of marigold flowers. The process of closing the gates will begin at 1 PM.
The Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has completed all preparations for the ceremonial closure. A large number of devotees have arrived at the shrine for this significant occasion, and over 5,000 devotees are expected to witness the closing of the temple gates.
Badarinath is one of the holy shrines for Vaishnavites among the 108 divya desams incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Badrinath town is also the part of Panch Badri temples including Yog Dhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri and Vriddha Badri, along with Badrinath temple.
The temple is approximately 50 feet tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof. The Badarinath temple is divided into three parts, the Garbha Griha or the sanctum sanctorum, the Darshan Mandap where rituals are conducted and the Sabha Mandap where pilgrims assemble.
At the Badarinath Mandir Gate, directly opposite the main Idol of Lord himself, is seated idol of Bird Garud, vehicle of Lord Badarinarayan. Garud is seen is sitting position and in prayer with his hands folded. The walls and pillars of the mandapa are covered with intricate carvings.
The Garbha Griha portion has its canopy covered with a sheet of gold and houses Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber (God of wealth), Narad rishi, Udhava, Nar and Narayan. The complex has 15 idols.
