• Source:JND
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The doors of Kedarnath Dham, which houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, were closed for the winter season on Sunday at 8:30 am on the auspicious day of Bhaiya Dooj. The temple was shut down following Vedic rituals and sacred traditions, with chants of "Om Namah Shivay" and devotional tunes by the Indian Army band enhancing the atmosphere. 

More than 15,000 devotees, including the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) President Ajendra Ajay, gathered to witness the ceremony, as the temple adorned in flowers marked this significant event.

The closing process began at 5 am, overseen by BKTC officials. Priests, Vedpathis and Acharyas performed the Samadhi Puja of Lord Kedarnath’s self-manifested Shivalinga, covering it with ashes, local flowers and Bel Patra. At 8:30 am, the Panchmukhi Utsav Doli of Baba Kedar was carried out of the temple, signifying the formal closing of the temple doors for winter.

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Following the closure, Baba Kedar’s Panchmukhi Utsav Doli embarked on its journey toward Rampur, the first stop. Hundreds of devotees joined the procession on foot, with Bhandaras (community feasts) organised for their support. Although cold winds swept through the Kedarnath area due to surrounding snow, the devotees displayed remarkable enthusiasm and resilience.

The Panchmukhi Doli is scheduled to stay overnight at Rampur on November 3, move to Shri Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi on November 4 and finally reach its winter seat at Shri Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath on November 5. Throughout winter, worship of Baba Kedar will take place at the Omkareshwar Temple.

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BKTC President Ajendra Ajay stated that over 16.5 lakh pilgrims visited Shri Kedarnath Dham during this year’s Yatra, setting a new record. He attributed the successful conduct of the pilgrimage to the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, along with the contributions of BKTC personnel, police, administration and teams from NDRF, SDRF and ITBP.