Kedarnath Dham portals closed for winter after record 19.5 lakh devotees visit shrine

Devotees gather during the door-closing ceremony of the Kedarnath Dham, in Rudraprayag, on Wednesday. PIC/PTI

The portals of Kedarnath Dham were ceremonially closed for the winter season at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, with an estimated total exceeding 19.20 lakh devotees visiting the Himalayan shrine during this year's pilgrimage season, Badarinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) President Hemant Dwivedi stated.

The closure ceremony was held during traditional rituals, Vedic chanting and the tunes of an Army band, with devotees gathering in huge numbers at the shrine to catch the final glimpse of Lord Shiva ahead of the winter break.

While speaking to ANI, Dwivedi called the occasion as an emotional moment and said the traditional rituals had been successfully completed.

"Today has arrived that emotional moment, an ancient tradition where for six months, worship is offered to Nara, and for six months to Narayana. Today, on November 11th, at 8:30 AM, the doors - well, I wouldn't call it closing the doors, rather this is the ceremony of 'Mangalam' for the doors. The first phase of all the rituals has been successfully completed here today," he said.

Putting emphasis on the pilgrimage footfall, the BKTC president said, "This time, a new record has been established: 1.95 million (19.5 lakh) devotees from across the country and the world received the blessings of Baba Kedar."

He showed gratitude to the Kedar Sabha, Tirth Purohits, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police personnel and district administration for their contribution towards making sure a smooth conduct of the pilgrimage is maintained.

Baba Kedar's ceremonial palanquin taken to Omkareshwar Temple

Dwivedi said the pilgrimage would now move into its second phase, with Baba Kedar's ceremonial palanquin (Doli) being taken to the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, the deity's winter abode. He appealed to devotees who could not visit Kedarnath to seek blessings at the temple in Ukhimath.

Meanwhile, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said the closing rituals began at 4 AM in the presence of administrative officials, BKTC representatives, Tirth Purohits and members of the Kedar Sabha.

"The portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham, which opened on April 22, were closed today. More than 19.20 lakh devotees visited the shrine this year," Mishra said.

He added that following the closure, the ceremonial Doli would depart for the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, where worship of Baba Kedar would continue during the winter months.

The annual closure marks the end of the Kedarnath pilgrimage season, with the shrine scheduled to reopen next year around Akshaya Tritiya.