Chamoli, May 11: Only 27 people, including the head priest, will be allowed when the portals of the Badrinath Temple reopen on May 15, officials said on Monday. "Devotees will not be allowed entry into the temple during that time. The decision has been taken in view of the guidelines issued by the Centre amid Covid-19 pandemic," Anil Chanyal, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Joshimath, said in a statement.

On April 29, the portals of Kedarnath Temple were thrown open after a six-month-long winter break. There also pilgrims were prohibited from visiting the shrine because of coronavirus lockdown. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, last month, had said that Badrinath shrine will be opened on May 15 at 4:30 am. Badrinath Temple to Open Portals on May 15 with 27 People, Including Chief Priest, No Devotees to be Allowed.

The ritual of extracting sesame oil for 'Gaadu Ghada' tradition was performed last week. Last week, Apart from that, May 5 had been selected to extract sesame oil for the 'Gaadu Ghada' tradition.

The portals of Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines are reopened around this time of the year after a six-month-long winter break and clearing of snow along the track leading to the shrines. Ahead of the re-opening, a high-level meeting was held at Chief Minister's residence in view of Covid-19.

The meeting was attended by Empress of Tehri and MP Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj, Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh, DGP Anil Kumar Raturi and Tourism Secretary Dilip Jawalkar.