Saturday, May 14 2005 10:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dehra Dun: Amidst chanting of vedic hymns, the portals of Badrinath shrine reopened for pilgrims yesterday (May 13, 2005) after six month's closure.

Chief Priest Rawal opened the main portals-Singha Dwar-as pilgrims made a beeline to have a 'darshan' of Lord Vishnu.

Tina Ambani, wife of Reliance Industries Vice Chairman Anil Ambani who is locked in a battle with his elder brother Mukesh for control of the Reliance business empire, and Bollywood actor Abishek Bachchan were the first among devotees to have a 'darhsan' of Badrinath, district magistrate Ajay Nabiyal said.

With the reopening of the Badrinath temple, all the four temples-Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri have been thrown open for pilgrims for six months during which thousands of people are expected to visit these Himalayan shrines.