After hosting an astounding 47 lakh devotees this season, the Badrinath Nagar Panchayat launched an extensive cleaning drive to restore the sacred shrine and its surroundings to their pristine state ahead of the winter closure.
A dedicated team of 50 ‘Paryavaran Mitra’ undertook the cleanup operation, collecting 1.5 tonnes of waste from prominent areas, including Brahm Kapal, Astha Path, Tapt Kund, Main Bazaar, and Mana village. This initiative reflects the local authorities’ unwavering commitment to preserving the sanctity and cleanliness of the revered Char Dham pilgrimage site.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, known for advocating cleanliness at Char Dham shrines, commended the effort. Highlighting the importance of sustainable waste management, the municipality reported earnings of ₹8 lakh from the disposal of 110 tonnes of inorganic waste collected during the Yatra season.
The post-season cleanup at Badrinath Dham exemplifies the adage, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” seamlessly blending devotion with environmental responsibility.
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Earlier, on Monday, November 18, the sacred thrones of Uddhav, Kuber, and Shankaracharya began their winter migration from Badrinath Dham to their designated locations. According to temple officials, the palanquins, accompanied by an army band and rights holders, set off for their winter sojourn. They halted overnight at Pandukeshwar, where Uddhav Ji and Kuber Ji will remain in the Yogadhyan Temple for winter worship, allowing devotees to continue offering prayers to Lord Badri Vishal during the off-season. The throne of Shankaracharya Ji has been placed in the Narsingh Temple at Joshimath, while Narad Ji will conduct worship at Badrinath Dham, adhering to the scriptures that designate six months of worship by humans and six months by gods.
Meanwhile, the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, in collaboration with the District Police Administration, reported record-breaking pilgrim turnout during the 2024 Yatra season.
Badrinath Dham welcomed 14,35,341 visitors between May 12 and November 17, including 11,170 on the final day. Kedarnath Dham saw 16,52,076 pilgrims between May 10 and November 3, with 1,26,393 traveling by helicopter.
Additionally, 1,83,722 devotees visited Shri Hemkunt Sahib and Lokpal Tirtha Shri Laxman Mandir before their gates closed on October 10. Temple authorities and local administration hailed these numbers as evidence of the successful management of the Yatra.
“These figures for the year 2024 have been released by the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee with the cooperation of the District Police Administration,” the official statement read.
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