The portals of the Gangotri Temple here were closed for winters on the occasion of Annakoot-Govardhan Puja on Sunday.
The temple gates were shut at 12:15 pm after a puja by priests in the presence of a large number of devotees, Uttarakhand Chardham Devasthanam Board media in-charge Harish Gaud said.
After the closure of the temple gates, an idol of goddess Ganga was carried in a palanquin decorated with flowers to Mukhba village where she will be worshipped during winters.
Social distancing norms were followed during the closing ceremony attended by Gangotri Mandir Samiti president Suresh Semwal and local leaders among others. Gaud said 23,500 devotees visited the temple this year after it had a delayed opening in July due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Temple at Gangotri opens on Akshaya Tritiya every year. The idol of river Ganges is brought down to Mukhba every winter, second day after Diwali. Then, a day before Akshaya Tritiya the doli of goddess Ganges is taken from Mukhba, located in Harsil valley, for an overnight stay at Bhairon temple in Bhairon Ghati and then taken to Gangotri on the auspicious day.
Semwals of Mukhba are responsible of prayers at Gangotri temple. This year, following the social distancing norms only 21 priests were only allowed to take part in the temple opening prayers in May. Similarly number of people accompanying the doli were also drastically reduced. Common people were not allowed to join.