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Badrinath shrine reopens

          Badrinath: Devotees queued up as the Kapats (doors) of the famous Badrinath shrine located at the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand reopened with the recitation of Vedic mantras on Tuesday after a winter break. "I cannot describe the experience I had in words. We have seen the door of the shrine reopening for the first time. This was really an experience of the lifetime. I am feeling really good," said Sanjay Kumar Sharma, a pilgrim. It was an emotive moment for many when the doors were opened amid chanting of Vedic incantations. "We reached here after a long journey of almost 13 hours. We finally got to offer prayers. We pray to the God that all the old people like us should get the opportunity to visit the temple," said Ram Kumar, a pilgrim. Situated in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand at a height of 10,284 meters above sea level, the shrine remains closed for nearly six months from November due to heavy snow in the region. The shrine is located on the banks of the Alaknanda River and is dedicated to Lord Badri or Vishu. It is visited by thousands of devotees every year For Hindus, a journey to Badrinath and the other three main shrines of Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri is considered a release from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Pilgrims are not allowed to go near the idols and have to pay respects from a distance. The deity's idol is made of black stone. All four shrines are in the Garhwal region. Armed security personnel of the Indian Army guard the temples throughout the year. Last year, a bomb disposal squad was also added to the security presence after intelligence agencies warned of a possible terror strike at the temple.
-May 2,  2007