Gangotri shrine to close on Monday for six months

Gates of the famous Hindu shrine, Gangotri, will close for winter recess on Monday, an official said.

The gates (pat) would be closed amid chanting of hymns and religious ceremonies as observed every year when the shrine closes for the winter recess after remaining open for almost six months.

From now till the main temple opens again in winters, the idol of Goddess Ganga would be kept in Ganga temple at Mukhwa where all the 'puja' will be done, an official informed.

The gates of the famous Yamunotri and Kedarnath (a Shiva shrine) will be closed on 'Bhaiyya Duj' festival on November 1. The fourth shrine of the famous annual 'Chaar Dhaam Yatra' -- Badrinath will close on November 16.

The gates of the Kedarnath shrine will close at 8 a.m. on Tuesday and on Thursday Lord Kedar will move to his 'winter home' Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath.

The Yamunotri temple will also close on Tuesday and the idol of Goddess Yamuna will move to the Yamuna temple in Kharsali, some five km from the main sanctum sanctorum.

--IANS

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