The portals of the revered Badrinath Temple were opened for devotees at 6 AM today during the auspicious Ravi Pushya Lagna. The shrine echoed with chants of “Jai Badri Vishal” as thousands of pilgrims witnessed the grand opening. Aerial flower showers were conducted to welcome devotees. Over 10,000 devotees from India and abroad gathered to witness the sacred moment and the six-month-old eternal flame (Akhanda Jyoti).
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also reached Badrinath for the ceremony. He offered prayers and participated in the rituals marking the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra season. The temple was beautifully adorned with 40 quintals of marigold flowers, with final decorations continuing till late evening.
In a significant step toward environmental conservation, Chamoli district administration has declared this year’s Badrinath pilgrimage a polythene-free journey. District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari urged hotels and roadside eateries along the route—from Karnaprayag to Pandukeshwar—to minimize polythene use. Establishments have been instructed to maintain cleanliness, display rate lists, and ensure fire safety with cylinders in place.
