PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Uttarkashi The process of the closure of the Char Dhams this year began with the closure of the portals of Gangotri Dham on Wednesday. The portals of the shrine to Goddess Ganga were closed on the occasion of Annakoot at 11:36 AM amidst chanting of Vedic hymns and traditional rituals. Thousands of devotees attended the closing ceremony. The devotees also paid obeisance to the goddess during the ritual worship and Abhishek of her Utsav Murti. The shrine resounded with devotees hailing the goddess with chants of ‘Har Har Gange’ as her Utsav Murti was kept on the Doli (palanquin) to be taken to her winter abode of Mukhwa ( Mukhi Math). The procession led by the Teerth Purohits and Gangotri MLA Suresh Singh Chauhan left the shrine on the tunes of local musical instruments and Army band. The Doli of the Maa Ganga will take a night rest at Chandi Devi temple at Markandeyapuri on Wednesday and will reach the winter abode of Mukhwa in presence of Someshwar Devta on Thursday. Devotees will be able to pay obeisance to the goddess and offer prayers here during the winter months while the main shrine at Gangotri remains closed. A total of 7,57,1000 pilgrims paid obeisance at Gangotri Dham this year. Meanwhile, preparations have been completed for the ritual closure of Yamunotri for the winter on Thursday. The Utsav Murti of the goddess will be placed in her winter abode at Kharsali in Uttarkashi district during the winter months.
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