Garhwal Post Bureau
Uttarkashi, 22 Oct: The portals of Gangotri Dham were closed for the six-month winter period on the occasion of Annakut Festival, precisely at 11:36 a.m. in the auspicious Abhijeet Muhurta today. The closure followed due Vedic rituals and chants of Mantras. Later, to the tunes of the Army band and traditional musical instruments, and amid the chants of ‘Ganga Maiyya Ki Jai’, the Doli carrying the idol of Goddess Ganga also departed for its winter abode, Mukhba village. Goddess Ganga’s Utsav Doli will now reside in Mukhba for six months.
The series of rituals began early this morning on the occasion of Govardhan festival at Gangotri Dham. The Teerth Purohits performed the Abhishek and Aarti of Goddess Ganga at the ghat and conducted special worship inside the temple. Personnel from the Army, Harshil Division, served the devotees by setting up a complimentary medical camp and a Langar.
Following the prescribed Muhurta, the portals of Gangotri temple were closed for the winter at 11:36 a.m. Immediately after, the Bhog Murti (consecrated idol) of Goddess Ganga was carried out of the temple and set off for Mukhba along with the palanquin procession. During this time, the sages and the sadhus who continue to meditate at Gangotri Dham even in winter, as well as the staff looking after the temple, ashrams, and hotels, bid farewell to Goddess Ganga.
Teerth Purohits stated that the Utsav Doli of Goddess Ganga would halt for the night at the Markandeya Puri Devi Temple. Bhajan-Kirtan would be performed there throughout the night. On the following day, the Utsav Doli of Goddess Ganga would proceed to Mukhba village for its winter stay. They reminded that the devotees will now be able to have the Darshan of Goddess Ganga only at Mukhba village for the next six months.
The portals of Gangotri Dham were closed in the presence of thousands of devotees.
Although the portals of Gangotri Dham are closed, an Akhand Jyot continues to burn in a large copper lamp inside the temple. Dharmanand Semwal, President of the Temple Committee, explained that a very large copper lamp is kept inside the temple. It is filled with oil, and the Akhand Jyot is lit before their departure. When the shrine’s portals reopen on the next Akshaya Tritiya, the eternal lamp is found still burning. Pilgrims are then fortunate to have the Darshan of the Akhand Jyot upon the opening of the portals.
The winter abode of Goddess Ganga is Mukhba Village which is in Uttarkashi district. It is situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi River, at an altitude of approximately 8,000 feet above sea level. Mukhba is about 80 kilometres away from the Uttarkashi district headquarters. The beauty of Mukhba, surrounded by snow-clad mountains on all sides, is truly captivating and it attracts fairly good number of pilgrims each winter besides the locals.
