Kedarnath Dham doors closed for winter: over 19.20 lakh devotees visit shrine this year
·37 mins ago·2 min read
Key Points
The portals of Kedarnath Dham were ceremonially closed for the winter season on November 11 at 8:30 AM, marking the end of this year's pilgrimage. More than 19.20 lakh devotees visited the Himalayan shrine during the season. Baba Kedar's ceremonial palanquin will now move to Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath for winter worship.
Rudraprayag, Nov 11: The portals of Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand were ceremonially closed for the winter season at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, November 11, marking the conclusion of this year's annual pilgrimage.
The closing ceremony was conducted with traditional religious rituals, Vedic chanting and the melodious tunes of an Army band. A large number of devotees gathered at the temple to witness the final darshan of Lord Shiva before the shrine closes for the winter months.
The ceremonial closure began early in the morning at 4 AM in the presence of administrative officials, BKTC representatives, Tirth Purohits and members of the Kedar Sabha.
This year's Kedarnath Yatra witnessed an impressive turnout, with more than 19.20 lakh pilgrims visiting the shrine from different parts of India and abroad.
The closing ceremony was conducted with traditional religious rituals, Vedic chanting and the melodious tunes of an Army band. A large number of devotees gathered at the temple to witness the final darshan of Lord Shiva before the shrine closes for the winter months.
The ceremonial closure began early in the morning at 4 AM in the presence of administrative officials, BKTC representatives, Tirth Purohits and members of the Kedar Sabha.
This year's Kedarnath Yatra witnessed an impressive turnout, with more than 19.20 lakh pilgrims visiting the shrine from different parts of India and abroad.
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BKTC President Hemant Dwivedi also highlighted the record-breaking footfall, stating that approximately 19.5 lakh devotees received the blessings of Baba Kedar during the pilgrimage season.
He expressed gratitude to the Kedar Sabha, Tirth Purohits, NDRF, SDRF, police personnel and the district administration for their support in ensuring the smooth and successful organisation of the annual pilgrimage.
Following the winter closure of Kedarnath Dham, the ceremonial palanquin (Doli) of Baba Kedar will be taken to Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, located in Rudraprayag district.
Omkareshwar Temple serves as the winter abode of Lord Kedarnath, where religious rituals and daily worship will continue throughout the winter months.
As per reports, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra also confirmed that the temple portals, which opened on April 22, were ceremonially closed on November 11 after the completion of the annual pilgrimage.
The annual closure of Kedarnath Dham marks the end of the pilgrimage season as extreme winter conditions and heavy snowfall make the high-altitude shrine inaccessible during the colder months. While the main temple will remain closed throughout winter, devotees can continue worshipping Baba Kedar at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath.
He expressed gratitude to the Kedar Sabha, Tirth Purohits, NDRF, SDRF, police personnel and the district administration for their support in ensuring the smooth and successful organisation of the annual pilgrimage.
Following the winter closure of Kedarnath Dham, the ceremonial palanquin (Doli) of Baba Kedar will be taken to Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, located in Rudraprayag district.
Omkareshwar Temple serves as the winter abode of Lord Kedarnath, where religious rituals and daily worship will continue throughout the winter months.
As per reports, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra also confirmed that the temple portals, which opened on April 22, were ceremonially closed on November 11 after the completion of the annual pilgrimage.
The annual closure of Kedarnath Dham marks the end of the pilgrimage season as extreme winter conditions and heavy snowfall make the high-altitude shrine inaccessible during the colder months. While the main temple will remain closed throughout winter, devotees can continue worshipping Baba Kedar at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath.
The portals of Kedarnath Dham are expected to reopen next year around Akshaya Tritiya, following the traditional Hindu calendar and the official announcement by the temple authorities.
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