The portals of the Gangotri Dham were closed for winters on Wednesday afternoon while those of Kedarnath and Yamunotri Dhams would get closed on Thursday. The portals of the Gangotri shrine were ceremoniously closed at 12:01 pm on the occasion of the Annakoot festival . Large number of the pilgrims had gathered in the temple to witness the closing ceremony on the day.
Now after the closure of the portals, devotees from all over the country and abroad will be able to pay their obeisance to the Mother Ganga at her winter abode in at Mukhimath (Mukhba).On Wednesday morning, before the closing of the doors of the Gangotri temple, Ganga Sahastranam was recited with a special worship. Temple committee officials and the priests performed a special worship of Bhog of the idol of Mother Ganga in the temple . The doors of the temple were closed for the winter season at 12.01 PM. After which the idol of the Maa Ganga was taken in the ceremonial palanquin from Gangotri to Mukhba. An army band played symphonies during the entire ceremony. On Wednesday, the procession would take a night rest at Chandi Devi temple in Markandeya Puri. The idol will be installed amid Vedic chants and rituals in the Mukhba temple on Thursday.
This year more than 6.25 lakh pilgrims visited Gangotri shrine which is a record.
