Snowfall in Gangotri Dham | 01 Apr 2024
Why in News?
Recently, Gangotri Dham in Uttarakhand, the highest temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga, received fresh rain and snowfall.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD), earlier, issued an alert for the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and some parts of Lahaul-Spiti.
Key Points
- The Gangotri Temple, where Goddess Ganga is worshipped, stands at a height of 20 feet and boasts of exquisite carvings on white granite.
- It is the origin of the River Ganges and is one of the four sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage of Uttarakhand.
- The other shrines included in the Char Dham pilgrimage are Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Yamunotri.
- The river is called Bhagirathi at the source and acquires the name Ganga (the Ganges) from Devprayag onwards where it meets the Alaknanda.
- The origin of the holy river is at Gomukh, set in the Gangotri Glacier, and is a 19 km trek from Gangotri.
India Meteorological Department
- IMD was established in 1875. It is the National Meteorological Service of the country and the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology and allied subjects.
- It works as an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.
- It is headquartered in New Delhi.
- IMD is also one of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization.