Dehradun: The valleys of Badrinath Dham, included in Uttarakhand and the Chardham of the country, will be opened for devotees on Tuesday, May 18 at 4.15 am. The date of opening the doors of Kedarnath Dham will be set on Shivratri (March 11). The valleys of Gangotri and Yamunotri open on Akshaya Tritiya every year. This year, Akshaya Tritiya is on 14 May.

Bhuwan Chandra Uniyal an advocate of Badrinath Dham, said that on the occasion of Basant Panchami, the date of opening the doors of the Badrinath temple was announced by the Tehri King Maharaja Manujendra Shah at the Narendranagar Raj Mahal. The date has been drawn by the Kulpurohit and Pandits to worship by law and to open the door. Last year, on November 19, the valleys of Badrinath Dham were closed due to winter. The doors are closed now. It is believed that Narad Muni comes to worship Badrinath in winter. After the opening of the gates, the males here worship the Rawal, and at the closing time, Naradji worships.

There is a place named Liladhungi, where Naradji's temple is. After the closure of the gates, the charge of worship in Badrinath remains with Nardamuni. Rawal Ishwarpradhas Namboodari is Rawal of Badrinath since 2014. After Badrinath gates close, they reach their village Raghavapuram. This village is located near Kerala. Rawal is appointed according to the system laid down by Adi Guru Shankaracharya. The people of the Namboodari sect reside in Raghavapuram village in Kerala. Rawals are appointed from this village. Rawal is a lifelong celibate.