Kedarnath Dham: Kedarnath Temple Gates Close for Winter, Deity Moves to Ukhimath for Six Months

On the auspicious occasion of Bhai Dooj, the gates of Kedarnath Dham were closed for the winter season today at approximately 8:30 AM. The entire Kedarnath valley resonated with chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Jai Baba Kedar'. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and thousands of devotees witnessed this significant event. Following the closure, the movable palanquin (doli) of Lord Shiva began its journey to its winter abode, Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. The gates of Yamunotri Dham are also scheduled to close today at 12:30 PM for the winter.

Winter Abode at Ukhimath

For the next six months, Baba Kedar's worship and darshan will take place at the winter seat, Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, while after the gates close, the deity's palanquin will rest overnight at Rampur today. It will then proceed to Guptkashi on October 24, and finally reach its winter abode, Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, on October 25. Devotees will be able to seek blessings of Baba Kedar there for the entire six-month period.

Record-Breaking Pilgrimage

Despite repeated disruptions due to monsoon-related disasters and adverse weather, this year's Char Dham Yatra has set new records. Kedarnath Dham saw over 16. 56 lakh pilgrims, surpassing its previous record of 16, while 52 lakh. Similarly, Badrinath Dham welcomed over 14. 53 lakh devotees, exceeding its previous figure of 14. 35 lakh. These numbers highlight the growing importance of religious tourism in Uttarakhand.