In the renowned temple of Badrinath, located in the state of Uttarakhand, a unique combination of reverence and faith was observed during the Sarvapitri Amavasya festival. Pilgrims from all corners of the country arrived at Tirtrajya Brahmakapal, striving to find peace and salvation for the souls of their ancestors. Since early Saturday morning, a huge crowd gathered here, performing pindadan and tarpan.
Of particular note is the fact that 28,094 pilgrims visited Badrinath Dham on Pitru Amavasya. Such a large number of devotees is considered significant in terms of religious tourism for the current season.
In the Tirtrajya Brahmakapal temple, located in Badrinath Dham, religious rituals began early in the morning in observance of Sarvapitri Amavasya. Pilgrims performed ablutions in the sacred waters of the Alaknanda River, and then conducted pindadan and tarpan according to established rituals for their ancestors. Temple priests and acharyas concluded the ancestral rituals according to religious traditions.
According to religious beliefs, pindadan in Brahmakapal holds special significance. Pilgrims arrive from within the country and from abroad, wishing to ensure peace and salvation for the souls of their ancestors. The Dharmadhikari of Badrinath Dham, Samvar Semwal, also spoke about the importance of Sarvapitri Amavasya, praying to Lord Narayana that the ancestors of the pilgrims performing Sharaddha and tarpan for their forebears would attain a place in God's abode.
According to the Tirth Purihots of Brahmakapal, Garv Sati, a large number of pilgrims arrived in Badrinath Dham this year during Pitrupaksha. The crowd of pilgrims was also dense in Brahmakapal since the morning of Sarvapitri Amavasya.
This time, a record number of pilgrims was registered in Badrinath Dham on Pitru Amavasya. On October 10, 2026, 28,094 pilgrims came here. Usually, such a large number of pilgrims is observed during the tourist season of May and June.
As of October 10, the total number of pilgrims who visited Badrinath Dham in this tourist season reached 19 million 85 thousand 318 people. Furthermore, only during Pitrupaksha did approximately two hundred thousand pilgrims visit Badrinath Dham. This sustained the vibrancy of travel alongside religious activities at the temple.
On the other hand, the gates of the sacred Sikh shrine Sri Hemkund Sahib were closed for winter on October 10, thus concluding the annual pilgrimage season. On the day the gates closed, 6,123 pilgrims paid homage. By the end of the season, a total of 3 million 90 thousand 696 pilgrims had visited.
Despite difficult snowy roads and unfavorable weather conditions, the faith of the pilgrims who reached Hemkund Sahib did not weaken. Meanwhile, the pilgrimage to Badrinath Dham continues. The large gathering of people in Brahmakapal during Sarvapitri Amavasya and the high number of pilgrims in both main shrines once again demonstrated the deep faith of people in the religious tourism of Uttarakhand.