The sacred portals of Badrinath Dham, one of Hinduism’s revered Char Dhams, were ceremoniously opened on Sunday amid the spiritual chants of “Jai Badrivishal.”
Thousands of devotees gathered at the temple, which is revered as Vaikuntha — the earthly abode of Lord Vishnu.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was present for the occasion and became the first to offer prayers after the temple gates reopened, marking the official resumption of pilgrimages to the holy site following the winter closure. The atmosphere was filled with devotion as bhajans were sung and petals were showered from helicopters on the assembled devotees.
An Indian Army band from the Garhwal Rifles played devotional music, adding to the sanctity of the moment.
Speaking on the occasion, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj said, “Today, the entire nation rejoices. Badrinath Dham is a source of divine bliss, and I urge devotees to visit in large numbers and experience its spiritual energy.”
Badrinath, situated at an elevation of 3,100 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas, lies on the banks of the Alaknanda River, nestled between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges. Believed to have been re-established in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya, it holds immense historical and spiritual significance.
The portal opening comes just days after the doors of Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Kedarnath Dham were opened, officially marking the start of the Char Dham Yatra 2025 on April 30, the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. The Badrinath temple was adorned with 40 quintals of fresh flowers for the occasion.
In preparation for the massive influx of pilgrims, Uttarakhand’s Director General of Police Deepam Seth and Additional DGP V Murugeshan reviewed arrangements at the site, ensuring security, crowd control, traffic regulation, and emergency preparedness.
So far, over 22 lakh pilgrims have registered at the Rishikesh Transit Camp for the Yatra. The pilgrimage traditionally begins at Yamunotri, followed by Gangotri, then Kedarnath, and concludes at Badrinath.
The Uttarakhand Police have ramped up efforts to ensure a safe and smooth experience for pilgrims, including the use of advanced surveillance technologies and 24×7 monitoring systems.
With the Char Dham Yatra now in full swing, devotees from across the country are flocking to the Himalayan shrines, seeking spiritual peace and divine blessings.
