Mussoorie, Nov. 11 -- The sacred portals of Gangotri Dham officially closed for the winter season on Tuesday at 12.05 pm, officials said, adding that this year, the shrine witnessed an unprecedented footfall, with over 1 million devotees arriving for darshan since the portals opened on April 19, breaking all records from the past four years. The temple was adorned with five quintals of flowers, and an Indian Army band played traditional tunes as the Utsav Doli (festive palanquin) of Goddess Ganga departed for its winter abode. Despite the freezing conditions at Gangotri Dham and the biting cold, over a thousand devotees gathered at the shrine to witness the deity's departure. After the closure, Goddess Ganga's palanquin began an approximately 25-km journey to Mukhba village, revered as her maternal home, or 'maiyka'. The procession made its first major stop at the Bhairav temple after an 8-km trek, then reached the Markandeya temple (Chandeshwari Devi temple) for an overnight halt. The doli will finally reach the main temple in Mukhya on Wednesday, on the occasion of Bhai Dooj, and for the next six months, devotees can continue to offer prayers and seek blessings at this winter abode, temple officials said. Suresh Semwal, secretary, Gangotri Dham Temple Committee, said, "The portal of the shrine was closed for winter on Tuesday, and the Utsav doli of the deity, carried by the temple priests on foot, has reached the Chandeshwari temple, where it will halt for the night and reach the winter abode of Mukhba temple on Wednesday." "This year the dham has seen record-breaking footfall, and we express our gratitude towards the district administration, devotees and especially CM Pushkar Dhami for better coordination this season." Gangotri MLA Suresh Chauhan also credited the state administration, police, and the state's leadership for smoothly managing over 1 million visitors. He urged devotees to visit the winter abode for darshan of goddess Ganga during the Chardham season....