Kedarnath, Yamunotri temples close for winter after over 28 lakh pilgrim visits

The Kedarnath and Yamunotri shrines in Uttarakhand closed for winter on Wednesday following traditional rituals. More than 27.97 lakh pilgrims visited the two temples during the season, while their deities were moved to designated winter abodes for worship

Rudraprayag/Uttarkashi: The portals of the Kedarnath and Yamunotri shrines were closed for the winter season on Wednesday following prescribed rituals and the chanting of Vedic mantras.

While the Kedarnath shrine was closed at 8.30 am, the portals of Yamunotri were shut at 10.28 am. More than 19.13 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath, while over 8.84 lakh visited Yamunotri during this year’s pilgrimage season.

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The process of closing the Kedarnath temple began at 4 am with special prayers and religious ceremonies. All rituals were performed in accordance with traditional customs before the temple portals were closed at the auspicious time of 8.30 am.

After the closure, the ceremonial palanquin carrying the deity of Lord Kedarnath was taken around the temple complex before beginning its journey to the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, the deity’s winter abode.

According to the schedule, the palanquin will halt overnight at Rampur on Wednesday before proceeding to Guptkashi on November 12. It will reach the Omkareshwar Temple on November 13.

Pilgrims can offer prayers to Lord Kedarnath at the Omkareshwar Temple during the six-month winter period.

The ceremonial palanquin of Goddess Yamuna, led by Shani Dev Maharaj, departed from Yamunotri for Kharsali, the deity’s winter abode, amid traditional rituals and folk music.

Villagers and pilgrims accorded a grand welcome to the palanquin when it arrived at the goddess’s ancestral village in the afternoon, showering it with flowers and garlands.

During the six-month pilgrimage season, the Yamunotri Temple Committee received more than Rs 90 lakh in donations through donation boxes and receipt books.

On Tuesday, a day before the temple’s closure, the committee opened the donation boxes for the fourth time to count the offerings. The exercise yielded Rs 10.42 lakh in cash, while approximately Rs 6 lakh was collected through receipt books.