The doors of Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand were closed for the winter season on Sunday, as per Vedic rituals and religious traditions as the chants of “Om Namah Shivay, Jai Baba Kedar” reverberated. The Indian Army band also joined and played devotional tunes.
According to ANI, which cited a government release, said that over 15,000 devotees attended the ceremony and that the temple for decorated since Diwali. The rituals began at 5 am on Sunday in the presence of Badrinath- Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) President Ajendra Ajay, Acharya, Vedpathi and priests of BKTC performed Samadhi Puja of the self-manifested Shivalinga of Lord Kedarnath.
At 8:30 am, Baba Kedar Panchmukhi Utsav Doli was brought out of the temple, after which the doors of Shri Kedarnath temple were closed. After the doors closed, Baba Kedar Panchmukhi Utsav Doli left for its first stop Rampur. Thousands of devotees follow on foot with Baba's Panchmukhi Doli.
Following this, Bhandara was organised at several places for the devotees.
As per a BKTC release, Baba Kedar's Panchmukhi Doli will be kept at Rampur for a night, following which it will be kept overnight at Vishwanath Temple Guptkashi on Monday, November 4. It will eventually reach the winter seat Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath on Tuesday, November 5.
In winter, Baba Kedar's worship will be performed in Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath.
Meanwhile, the doors of Badrinath Dham will close on November 17 this year. The doors of Gangotri Dham were closed for winter on Saturday, November 2. The doors of 'Yamnotri Dham' will be closed on Sunday, in the afternoon, on the occasion of Bhai Dooj.