In a moment of immense spiritual significance, the portals of Badrinath Dham — one of the four holy shrines of the Char Dham Yatra — were ceremoniously reopened on Sunday morning after a six-month closure due to winter. Devotees from across the country gathered in large numbers to witness the auspicious occasion and offer prayers at the sacred temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
The ritual reopening was led by the Dharmadhikari of Badrinath Dham, Radha Krishna Thapliyal, who called the moment “deeply significant” for pilgrims and the state. “Today is an important day because people wait for six months to pray in the temple. First prayers are offered for the well-being of everyone, and then the pious portals of the Lord are opened,” Thapliyal said. He also shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami perform rituals at the shrine on behalf of the nation each year.
Recognising the spiritual yearning of those unable to attend in person, Thapliyal urged devotees to offer mental prayers. “Those who are not able to come should worship God in their minds. The ‘Shringar’ will be done today itself, and darshan will be allowed throughout the day, keeping the huge crowd in consideration,” he added.
Devotees present at the temple expressed joy and peace after the long-awaited ‘darshan’. “I felt amazing after darshan. The administration is taking full care… my mind has become peaceful,” said one pilgrim. Another shared, “There is peace here. I am feeling amazing… the weather is cold.”
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended his warm wishes to all pilgrims and offered prayers for a safe and smooth journey. Calling it an “auspicious day,” he welcomed visitors to the spiritual land of Uttarakhand. “Today is a very auspicious day, the doors of Lord Badri Vishal are opening. I welcome all the pilgrims on their arrival in the holy land of Uttarakhand and pray to God that the journey of all the pilgrims is completed smoothly,” Dhami said.
The Chief Minister also reviewed arrangements at the shrine and spoke about the ongoing development plans. “All arrangements have been made. Work is progressing on the master plan of Lord Badri Vishal under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi,” he stated, emphasizing the state government’s commitment to enhancing pilgrimage infrastructure and experience.
Badrinath Dham, nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas, holds immense importance in Hinduism and attracts lakhs of devotees every year. As part of the Char Dham Yatra, it is considered one of the holiest destinations, alongside Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Kedarnath.
The Char Dham Yatra 2025 officially commenced on April 30 with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The doors of Kedarnath Dham were opened on May 2, and with Badrinath now open, the full circuit of pilgrimage is active for the year.
Pilgrims are expected to continue arriving in large numbers in the coming weeks, marking the beginning of a spiritually vibrant and logistically significant period for Uttarakhand.
