Portals of Badrinath thrown open, first pujas held on behalf of PM Modi
The sacred portals of Badrinath were opened early on Friday (May 15) with only a select group of priests and Devasthanam Board officials attending the low-key ceremony.
The gates of the Himalayan temple were opened at 4.30 am by its chief priest Rawal Ishwari Prasad Nambudiri in the presence of a limited number of shrine board officials, who wore masks and maintained social distance through the process, said media incharge of Devasthanam Board Harish Gaud.
#WATCH Uttarakhand: The portals of Badrinath Temple opened at 4:30 am today. 28 people including the Chief Priest was present at the temple when its portals opened. (Video Source: ITBP) pic.twitter.com/Yr6pamv7Kk
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2020
After the gates were opened, the first puja was performed on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi praying for the welfare of mankind. Though the crowd of devotees was missing from the opening ceremony, the temple was decorated with 10 quintals of flowers and glittering with lights, Gaud said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj congratulated devotees on the opening of the temple and expressed hope that the coronavirus pandemic will be defeated and the chardham yatra will begin as soon as possible.