As the winter is here, the devotees from across the country refrain from going on a pilgrimage to Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath. The portals will remain shut for the next six months, as informed by Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board recently. The circuit of four ancient pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, including Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are referred to as ‘Char Dham’. Rajesh Semwal, Gangotri Mandir Samiti co-secretary informed the portals of the Gangotri shrine closed on 5th November 2021 at 11.45 am after priests performed religious rituals. The Utsav Doli (palanquin) of Maa Ganga of the Gangotri shrine left for her winter home at Mukhba village. This year, Gangotri had recorded more than 32,948 pilgrims amid Covid-related curbs and restrictions.
Meanwhile it was informed by the board member, Dr Harish Gaur, that the doors of the Tritiya (third) Kedar Shri Tungnath Temple were closed on 30th October and Dvitiya (second) Kedar Shri Madmaheshwar Temple on 22nd November for winter. Shri Madmaheshwar fair closed on 25th November. The Char Dham Yatra began on 18th September this year after the Nainital High Court on 16th September lifted the ban on Char Dham Yatra and only allowed fully vaccinated visitors with a mandatory COVID-19 negative report for the annual pilgrimage. Earlier board members had informed that on 5th November Shri Gangotri Dham was shut down followed by Kedarnath and Yamunotri on 6th November. Doors to Badrinath were closed on 20th November