Doors of Kedarnath closed for winter season

The portals of Kedarnath were closed for the winter season on Sunday on the occasion of Bhai Dooj. The doors were closed with Vedic rituals and religious traditions amidst the chanting of Om Namah Shivay, Jai Baba Kedar and the devotional tunes of the Indian Army band.Over 18,000 pilgrims thronging the Himalayan temple to witness the closure ceremony.An elaborate ceremony preceding the closure of the temple gates began at 4 am and the portals were closed at 8.30 am, Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) media in-charge Harish Gaur said. The self-manifested Shivalinga was given Samadhi form with ashes, local flowers, Bel leaves. At 08:30 am, Baba Kedar's Panchmukhi Utsav Doli was brought out of the temple, after which the doors of Shri Kedarnath temple were closed.

Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand: A large crowd of devotees gathers as the Kedarnath Dham’s doors begins to close pic.twitter.com/JlxmD2o6pQ

— IANS (@ians_india) November 3, 2024

With the closing of the doors, Baba Kedar's Panchmukhi Utsav Doli left for its first stop Rampur. Thousands of devotees left on foot with Baba's Panchmukhi Doli. Bhandaaras were organized at various places for the devotees. On Sunday, the weather. in Kedarnath was clear. Due to snow around, cold winds also kept blowing but there was great enthusiasm among the devotees. In winter, Baba Kedar's worship will be performed in Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath itself.The doors of Badrinath Dham will close on November 17 this year.