UTTARAKHAND, INDIA, May 13, 2020 (Times of India): Today, amid Coronavirus lockdown, devotees took out processions from the Narsingh Temple in Joshimath to Badrinath Temple, ahead of opening the portals of the shrine. Badrinath portals are due to open on May 15, i.e., two days before the ongoing nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end. Religious ceremonies were also held at the Narsingh Temple. Other ceremonies and pujas of Gadu Ghada, the ritual of extracting sesame oil, and the gaddi (seat) of Adi Shankaracharya were performed in Joshimath, after which the Rawal departed for Pandukeshwar today.
As per the news reports, special ceremonies have also been scheduled to take place tomorrow in the Yog Dhyana Badri Temple in Pandukeshwar, following which the statues of Hindu Deities Badrinath, Uddhav and Kuber will be taken to the Badrinath Temple. When the portals of Badrinath Temple open on May 15, only 27 people will be allowed to be present during the opening along with the head priest according to officials. The portals of Badrinath and Kedarnath temples reopen during this time of the year after a six-month winter break, i.e., after clearing of snow along the track leading to the temples is completed. Also, before taking the decision of re-opening the shrines this year, a high-level meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s residence in view of the Coronavirus outbreak.