Valley Echoes with ‘Har Har Mahadev’ Chants as Kedarnath Temple Doors Close for Winter

Rudraprayag (The Uttam Hindu): The sacred doors of Shri Kedarnath Dham, one of Lord Shiva’s twelve Jyotirlingas, were ceremonially closed for the winter season on Thursday morning at 8:30 AM. The ritual was conducted with traditional customs, special prayers, and chanting of Vedic mantras.

The process of closing the temple gates began early at 4 AM with special worship ceremonies. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, District Magistrate Prateek Jain, Superintendent of Police Akshay Konde, and Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee CEO Vijay Thapliyal, along with priests and a large number of devotees, attended the event.

After the temple doors were closed, Baba Kedarnath’s Panchmukhi Doli (five-faced palanquin) started its journey toward the winter seat Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. The first halt of the Doli will be at Rampur, followed by Guptkashi on Friday. On October 25, the Doli will reach its final destination at the Omkareshwar Temple, where Lord Kedarnath will be worshipped throughout the winter months.