KEDARNATH, INDIA, October 23, 2025 (The Economic Times): The doors of the Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath and Yamunotri in Uttarakhand were closed for the winter season on Thursday. The doors of Kedarnath, the abode of Lord Shiva and the eleventh Jyotirlinga, located in Rudraprayag district, were closed at 8:30 am. Despite the cold, nearly 10,000 devotees were present at the closing ceremony, chanting “Har Har Mahadev,” “Jai Baba Kedar,” and “Bam Bam Bhole.” Present were politicians, administrative officials, temple committee officials and a large number of priests. Now, during the next six months, Lord Kedarnath will be worshipped at the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, His winter residence.

The temple was decorated with flowers for the ceremony. As the festive palanquin of Lord Kedarnath was brought out amidst the devotional tunes of the Army band and the cheers of devotees, the entire atmosphere was filled with devotion. The palanquin will stay overnight in Rampur on Thursday while on Friday it will reach Guptkashi from where it will be sent to its winter seat, Omkareshwar Temple, on October 25. The Kedarnath temple will reopen its doors to devotees in April-May next year. The date and time will be decided during the Mahashivratri festival. The doors of Yamunotri, another shrine among the four shrines of the Garhwal Himalayas, were also closed for devotees on Thursday at 12:30 pm amid chanting of Vedic mantras. This year’s Char Dham Yatra has now reached its final stage, with the doors of Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Kedarnath shrines closed for the winter. The Badrinath temple will close on November 25, marking the end of this year’s Char Dham Yatra.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/kedarnath-yamunotri-shrines-closed-for-winter-season/articleshow/124757971.cms?from=mdr

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