The portals of Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples in the
Garhwal Himalayas were closed for the winter season on Wednesday.
The doors of Kedarnath, dedicated to Lord Shiva, were
closed at 8:30 am and those of Yamunotri at 11:57 am.
Braving the intense morning cold, more than 2,500
pilgrims attended the closing ceremony at Kedarnath, Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple
Committee chairman Ajendra Ajay said.
The temple remains snowbound during winter.
Kedarnath and nearby areas are already covered in snow
and have been swept by cold winds.
After the temple doors were closed, the ‘Panchmukhi
Doli’ of Lord Kedarnath carried by the temple priests left for the Omkareshwar
temple in Ukhimath, where the deity will be worshipped during winter.
More than 19.5 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath this
season, Ajay said.
The doors of the Yamunotri temple, which is also part
of the Char Dham circuit, were also closed for devotees.
Goddess Yamuna will be worshipped for six months at
her winter abode Khushimath in Kharsali village of Uttarkashi district.
The doors of the Gangotri Dham were closed on Tuesday
and those of the Badrinath Dham will be closed on November 18.
Due to snowfall and severe cold in winter, the doors
of Char Dham are closed for devotees every year in October-November and
reopened in April-May.
PTI
