Kedarnath Dham doors closed for winter; record 19.5 lakh devotees visit shrine this year
Kedarnath/Rudraprayag: The portals of the world-famous eleventh Jyotirlinga, Shri Kedarnath Dham, were ceremonially closed for the winter season at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday on the auspicious occasion of Bhai Dooj. Thousands of devotees gathered at the Himalayan shrine to witness the sacred rituals, marking the conclusion of this year’s pilgrimage season, which saw a record footfall of nearly 19.5 lakh devotees.
More than 5,000 devotees, including Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) President Hemant Dwivedi, were present as the closing ceremony was conducted in accordance with ancient Vedic traditions and religious customs. The temple had opened for devotees at 3:30 a.m., while the formal process of closing the shrine began at 5 a.m.
Chief Priest T. Gangadhar Ling performed the special rituals in the sanctum sanctorum. The self-manifested Shivalinga was adorned with local flowers, sacred Brahmakamal blossoms, and holy ash before the doors of the sanctum were closed.
Following the rituals, the Panchmukhi (five-faced) movable idol of Lord Kedarnath was brought out from the Sabha Mandap amid chants of “Jai Shri Kedar” and “Om Namah Shivay,” creating a deeply spiritual atmosphere throughout the temple complex.
Soon after the closure of the temple doors, the Panchmukhi Doli of Lord Kedarnath began its journey towards its winter abode. Accompanied by devotional tunes played by an army band and continuous chants of “Jai Shri Kedar,” the palanquin left for its first halt at Rampur.
The temple premises had been beautifully decorated with flowers for the occasion. Free food distribution arrangements were also made for devotees by donors and personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Recent snowfall in the surrounding mountains added to the spiritual charm of the shrine, though it also intensified the cold conditions in the region.
According to BKTC Media In-charge Dr Harish Gaur, the Panchmukhi Doli will reach the Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi on November 12. On November 13, the procession will arrive at Shri Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath, where worship of the deity will continue throughout the winter months.
Dr Gaur also noted that the doors of Bhakunta Bhairavnath Temple, regarded as the guardian deity of Kedarnath Dham, had already been closed for the winter season on November 7 as part of the traditional procedures.
Speaking on the occasion, BKTC President Hemant Dwivedi expressed gratitude to all departments, institutions, stakeholders, Shri Kedar Sabha members, security personnel, and devotees who contributed to the successful conduct of the Char Dham Yatra. He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a special attachment to Kedarnath Dham and said the pilgrimage had achieved new milestones this year under the guidance of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj.
Dwivedi further stated that efforts would now be focused on promoting the winter pilgrimage circuit, enabling devotees to continue their spiritual journey even after the closure of the Himalayan shrines.
Among those present during the ceremony were BKTC Vice President Vijay Kaparavan, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra, committee members Mahendra Sharma, Devi Prasad Deoli, Neelam Puri, Prahlad Pushpavan, Dr Vineet Posti, Kedar Sabha President Rajkumar Tiwari, CEO Sohan Singh Rangad, Chief In-charge Officer Vipin Tiwari, Chief Administrative Officer D.S. Bhujwan, along with senior officials and personnel from the district administration, police, ITBP, and SDRF.
The closing of Kedarnath Dham marks the end of another successful pilgrimage season in the Himalayas, with record-breaking devotee participation reaffirming the shrine’s enduring spiritual significance.
