Dehradun, Sept. 29 -- The date for the ceremonial closing of the portals of Badrinath Dham will be announced on Vijayadashami, October 2, officials said on Sunday. A special religious ceremony will be held in the temple complex on Vijayadashami afternoon, where the Dharmadhikari (religious leader )and Vedapathi (Vedic priest) will calculate the almanac to determine the date and time. The Rawal (head priest) of Badrinath Dham will formally announce the schedule in the presence of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) members. On the same occasion, the schedule of five pujas to be performed before the portals are shut for winter will also be finalised. Meanwhile, the dates for the closing of portals of the other Kedars will also be declared - Madmaheshwar at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath and Tungnath at Markateshwar Temple in Makku Math, both in Rudraprayag district. BKTC media in-charge Dr Harish Gaur said preparations have already begun for the announcement ceremony on Vijayadashami. This year so far, over 13.9 lakh pilgrims have visited the Badrinath Dham shrine. Last year over 14 lakh pilgrims had visited Badrinath Dham, while the number of devotees in 2023 stood at 18,41,381 in total. Badarinath Dham, located in Chamoli district along the banks of the Alaknanda River at a height of 3,133 metres, is one of the holiest shrines for Hindus, especially Vaishnavites. It is also part of Panch Badri temples including Yog Dhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri and Vriddha Badri. The temple is around 50 feet tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof. The temple complex has 15 idols, including the image of Lord Badarinath, sculpted in black stone. According to local priests, Adiguru Shankaracharya discovered a black stone image of Lord Badarinarayan made of Saligram stone in the Alaknanda River. He originally enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the sixteenth century, the King of Garhwal moved the idol to the present location of the temple. Char Dham shrines remain shut for around six months every year, opening in summers (April or May) and closing with the onset of winter (October or November). Traditionally, the Char Dham pilgrimage begins from the west from Yamunotri, then proceeds to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath in the east....