After re-opening for just a month, Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples, nestled in the lofty peaks of Garhwal Himalayas, were closed for winter on Tuesday, culminating the end of the arduous pilgrimage that remained suspended for more than three months after the devastation caused by June 16-17 deluge.
The closure ceremony witnessed a festive look with priests chanting vedic hymns at the shrines. On Monday, the portals of Gangotri temple were also closed. Similarly, Badrinath temple will also be closed on November 18.
But the main focus was on Kedarnath temple, the epicentre of the June floods, claiming hundreds of lives, where nearly 1,300-1,400 pilgrims visited the shrine since it was re-opened on October five. This is being seen as good sign for the revival of the Chardham yatra which looked bleak after the June calamity.
Despite pilgrims visiting the Kedarnath shrine, the overall tourism outlook in the state remained gloomy in spite of the efforts put up by the state government. Besides the Chardham yatra, the tourism in other places like Mussoorie and Nainital has not regained its lost glory so far.
However, 1300-1400-odd pilgrims had braved inclement weather and covered arduous 24-km trek to visit Kedarnath shrine at a time when the majority of people are still not feeling safe to visit Uttarakhand. Tourism officials are also optimistic that the tourism will be revived when the Chardham yatra resumes in the next season. "The tragedy that struck in June was very big. Give us time, the tourism will surely pick up," said A K Dwivedi, the tourism department joint director.
Nevertheless, this was the shortest Chardham yatra in recent years as the temple remained opened for only two months. All the four temples will now be re-opened in April-May next year.
For centuries together, the doors of Badrinath, Yamunotri, Gangotri and Badrinath temples, collectively known as Chardham, remained closed during winter as per the traditions set by Adi Shankracharya and his followers.
But the state government in the past had mulled the idea to keep the doors of the four temples open throughout the year. But tourism experts said the government can discuss the issue and take a decision whether at least Badrinath temple can be opened for winter period.
"This move can help revive tourism," said S P Kochar, chairman of the Uttarakhand PHD Chamber of Commerce.
