Badrinath Dham's 'Panch Puja' Rituals Begin Ahead of Winter Closure
Overview of 'Panch Puja' at Badrinath Dham
Badrinath Dham 'Panch Puja' 2026: The five-day 'Panch Puja' ritual commenced on Thursday at the famous Badrinath Dham, marking the lead-up to the temple's winter closure. A variety of traditional religious ceremonies will take place during this time. The temple doors are set to close on Monday, November 16, at 9:37 PM. Following this, on November 17, the palanquins carrying the idols of Lord Badri Vishal and other deities will head to their winter residence. This event signifies the start of preparations for the winter pilgrimage season. It is important to note that the Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri shrines have already closed for the winter.
Daily Rituals of the 'Panch Puja'
Day 1 (Worship of Lord Ganesha) – On Thursday, November 12, the Shri Ganesha temple doors within the Badrinath complex were closed as part of the annual rituals. After the ceremonies dedicated to Lord Ganesha, his idol was placed in the main sanctum.
Day 2 (Closing of Adi Kedareshwar and Adi Shankaracharya Temples) – On Friday, November 13, the doors of both the Adi Kedareshwar temple and the temple of Jagatguru Adi Shankaracharya were closed for the winter, with prayers offered to Lord Shiva and Guru Shankaracharya.
Day 3 ('Khadga-Pustak Puja' and End of Vedic Recitations) –Saturday, November 14, was marked by the 'Khadga-Pustak Puja' (worship of sacred texts). Additionally, the recitation of Vedic hymns within the temple concluded for the winter.
Day 4 (Invitation to Goddess Lakshmi and 'Kadhai Bhog') –On Sunday, November 15, a special offering called 'Kadhai Bhog' was made to Goddess Lakshmi by the chief priest (Rawal). Goddess Lakshmi was also invited to enter the main sanctum alongside Lord Badrivishal.
Fifth Day (Goddess Lakshmi's Entry and Main Doors Closure) –On Monday, November 16, Goddess Lakshmi was installed in the sanctum of the Badrinath Temple, while the idols of Lord Uddhava and Lord Kubera were brought outside. Following prescribed rituals and mantra chanting, the doors of Badrinath Dham were closed for the winter. The next day, the ceremonial palanquin (utsav doli) of the Lord will depart for His winter abode (Pandukeshwar and Jyotirmath).
Conclusion of the 'Panch Puja'
As the 'Panch Puja' concludes, the main doors of Badrinath Dham will officially close for the winter at 9:37 PM on November 16. On November 17, the palanquins carrying the idols of Lord Uddhava, Lord Kubera, and Adi Guru Shankaracharya will leave for their winter residences, with Lord Badrivishal's palanquin also heading towards Pandukeshwar. These rituals will be overseen by the temple's Rawal (head priest), Dharmadhikari, and other Acharyas, with officials from the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee and other administrative bodies present.
The Temple Committee is diligently preparing for the 'Panch Puja' and the door-closing ceremony. Situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Badrinath is one of the four key pilgrimage sites in the 'Char Dham' circuit and is also a vital part of the 'Chota Char Dham' pilgrimage. This year, over 2.27 million (22.7 lakh) devotees visited Badrinath Dham to receive blessings from Lord Badrinath. With three of the four 'Dhams'—Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Kedarnath—already closed for winter, the process of closing Badrinath Dham is now underway. The temple doors are closed only after the completion of the 'Panch Puja', a series of five rituals that honor the tradition of Lord Badrinath’s winter repose.