Dehradun: Devotees braved early morning chill to converge at Kedarnath as the portals of the famed Himalayan shrine, located at a height of 11,755 feet, were closed for the winter today amid chanting of Vedic hymns and elaborate rituals lasting an hour.

The doors of the temple were closed for devotees at 8 AM after last prayers of the season were offered and rituals carried out by a group of five priests (panch pujari gan) in the presence of scores of devotees, temple committee and administrative officials, Kedarnath Rawal (head priest) Bhima Shankar Ling Shivacharya Swamiji said on the phone.