Garhwal Post Bureau
Uttarkashi, 23 Oct: The portals of Yamunotri Temple, the first among the revered Char Dham pilgrimage sites, were ceremoniously closed for the winter season at 12:30 p.m. on the auspicious occasion of Bhai Dooj today. The closure ceremony was held amid Vedic chants and marked by due rituals and a special puja. A large number of pilgrims and priests had gathered to witness the ritualistic farewell.
Following the conclusion of the puja, the Utsav murti (Doli) of Mother Yamuna was placed in a decorated palanquin and the traditional doli yatra departed Yamunotri for Kharsali village, where it will reside for the next six months. Daily worship and darshan will continue at the winter abode, allowing the devotees to maintain their spiritual connection with the Deity during the winters when Yamunotri remains snowbound.
It may be recalled that the temple had opened earlier this year on Akshaya Tritiya, 30 April, in accordance with longstanding tradition. Traditionally, the Yamunotri Dham opens on Akshaya Tritiya and closes for winters on Bhai Dooj though, each year, the auspicious time (Muhurta) is calculated according to Hindu Almanac by the priests and the astrologers for the opening and closure of the temple.
The day’s proceedings began with special morning worship of Goddess Yamuna, after which the devotees had darshan of the Deity and they also bathed in the sacred Yamuna River. Earlier this morning, the palanquin of Lord Shani Dev also arrived at Yamunotri Dham. Lord Shani is Yamuna’s brother, as also Yamraj. Shanidev bathed in the river and participated in a special puja alongside his sister, Yamuna, reinforcing the mythological bond and spiritual significance of the occasion of Bhai Dooj. The temple priests conducted elaborate rituals for both the Deities before formally closing the temple doors at the designated time.
The priests at Yamunotri Dham confirmed that the temple was closed with all prescribed rituals. They also shared that the pilgrims would continue to have darshan of Goddess Yamuna at Kharsali. They also appealed to the state government to ensure that pilgrimage facilities remain functional at the winter abode of Yamuna at Kharsali. Uninterrupted access would not only facilitate the winter pilgrimage but is also expected to support the livelihoods of local residents engaged in yatra-related services.
It may be noted here that, during the current Yatra season, Yamunotri Dham welcomed approximately 6.45 lakh devotees who came to offer prayers and seek blessings. The Yamunotri Temple Committee reported that offerings and donations collected through donation boxes and receipt books amounted to nearly Rs 50 lakhs. While there was a slight decline in pilgrim footfall this year as compared to the previous year, the temple still witnessed a robust turnout. Committee members Purushottam Uniyal, Pradeep Uniyal, and Sunil Uniyal acknowledged the marginal dip in both attendance and income but attributed these to logistical challenges and weather-related disruptions.
