Over 1.7 Million Devotees Visited Sacred Shrine This Season
The sacred portals of Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district closed today for the winter season. The main doors were ceremonially locked as Baba Kedar’s palanquin (doli) departed on its traditional 55-kilometer journey to Ukhimath, where the deity will remain during the harsh Himalayan winter months.
The farewell ceremony featured traditional melodies performed by an Army band, adding solemnity to this sacred moment. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the closing ritual, paying his respects alongside thousands of devotees who gathered for this significant occasion.
This year witnessed remarkable pilgrimage numbers, with over 1.7 million devotees undertaking the challenging trek to seek Baba Kedar’s blessings. The temple, situated at 3,583 meters above sea level, becomes inaccessible during winter due to extreme weather conditions and heavy snowfall.
The deity will now reside at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath until the spring reopening. This centuries-old tradition ensures continuous worship while protecting devotees from treacherous winter conditions. The temple is expected to reopen in April-May 2026, when pilgrimage season resumes.
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