TEHRI: The Tehri royal family honored Rawal Ishwar Prasad Namboodiri, chief priest of the Badrinath temple, at a tilak ceremony. It is also special that the royal family is honoring a priest of the Badrinath temple after a hundred years. With this, Rawalji will get the status equal to Maharaja. The ceremony, which had been in existence since ancient times, was discontinued due to some reasons. The ceremony was held again after a hundred years.

In the past, it was the Tehari royal family that used to send priests from the Travancore king to Badrinath to perform the puja. These priests will be converted to Naib Rawal after the first four years. Only after that will the rank of Rawalji be given. Rawalji will be honored by making him wear a bangle at the time of conferring this title. This is the ceremony that took place after a hundred years.

First puja for King of Tehri, second for Prime Minister

Badrinath temple located on the banks of Alakananda river in Uttarakhand will open on 12th of this month. Another special feature is that the nada will be opened on the day of Shankara Jayanti. Special puja and Mahabhishekam will be held on that day. The first puja will be for the King of Tehari. Later, a second puja will be held for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rawalji was recently awarded the Malliyoor Shankar Smriti Award. Badrinath Rawalji HH Ishwar Prasad Namboothiri was awarded with the Shankar Smriti Award which is given annually on the occasion of Malliyoor Jayanthi. The award is given in consideration of attention to ritual, devotion to dharmacharana and long experience in the field of spiritual service. The award consists of one lakh rupees, a plaque and a citation.