Kedarnath Closes For Winter In A Grand Ceremony With Vedic Rituals And Over 15,000 Devotees

In a solemn and reverent ceremony, the sacred doors of Kedarnath Dham, one of India’s revered pilgrimage sites and home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, closed for the winter season this Sunday at precisely 8:30 am. Marking the occasion, thousands of devotees gathered early in the morning to partake in the closure on the auspicious day of Bhaiya Dooj. 

Kedarnath’s Doors Close For Winter On Bhaiya Dooj 

Kedarnath Temple at 5:30AM, Last darshan before the doors are closed, Just Imagine waking up here. pic.twitter.com/1ooysTlIPy

— Akanksha Parmar (@iAkankshaP) November 3, 2024

The ceremony, steeped in ancient Vedic rituals and sacred traditions, resonated with the powerful chants of “Om Namah Shivay.” An Indian Army band accompanied the proceedings, filling the air with devotional tunes that added to the moving farewell.

As per the Jagran reports, the preparations for the closure began at 5 am, as officials of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) and a dedicated team of priests, Vedpathis, and Acharyas carried out the Samadhi Puja of Lord Kedarnath’s self-manifested Shivalinga. With meticulous care, the Shivalinga was adorned with local flowers, Bel Patra, and a layer of ashes, marking the Shivalinga’s repose for the coming winter. 

Thousands of people watched as Baba Kedar’s revered Panchmukhi Utsav Doli was ceremoniously carried out of the temple at 8:30 am, the Jagran reported, officially closing its doors until the following spring.

Also Read: Three Flights Diverted From Amritsar Due To Poor Visibility Caused By Alarming AQI Levels

Temple Closes After Record 16.5 Lakh Pilgrims Visit This Year

Following the ritual, the Panchmukhi Utsav Doli, carrying the spirit of Baba Kedar, embarked on its journey toward its winter seat. The first stop on this sacred procession was Rampur, where hundreds of devotees joined the journey on foot. The Kedarnath community organised bhandaras along the route. 

As per the Jagran reports, after its stay in Rampur, the Doli will continue to the Shri Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi on November 4, before reaching its winter abode at the Shri Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath on November 5. Here, worship of Baba Kedar will continue throughout the winter.

Ajendra Ajay, President of the BKTC, also highlighted the record-breaking pilgrimage season, noting that over 16.5 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath this year. According to Jagran, he attributed this success to the support of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, as well as the efforts of the BKTC staff, the local police, administration, and various disaster response teams, including the NDRF, SDRF, and ITBP, who ensured the safety and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage season.

Until the spring, the spirit of Kedarnath rests at Ukhimath.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva