Portals of Kedarnath Dham close for winter amid echoes of ‘Jai Baba Kedar’ in Himalayas

The portals of Kedarnath Dham, one of India’s most revered Jyotirlingas, were closed for the winter season on Thursday amid traditional Vedic rituals and chants of “Jai Baba Kedar.” The ceremony, held on the occasion of Bhai Dooj, witnessed the presence of Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who joined thousands of devotees gathered despite freezing temperatures.

Before the closure, priests performed special prayers and a yagya, adorning the temple with flowers. The eastern and southern gates of the shrine were sealed after the Shivling was ceremonially covered, marking the end of this year’s pilgrimage season. The Panchmukhi Utsav Doli (ceremonial palanquin) of Lord Kedarnath was taken around the temple before beginning its journey to the winter seat at Ukhimath.

Dhami hailed the smooth conduct of the 2025 Char Dham Yatra, noting a record 17.68 lakh devotees visited Kedarnath compared to 16.52 lakh in 2024. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance for the temple’s grand reconstruction and urged devotees to visit the winter abodes of the four dhams to support local livelihoods.

The Panchmukhi Doli will reach the Shri Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, where worship will continue for the next six months. The Kedarnath temple, located at an altitude of 3,500 metres near the Mandakini River in Rudraprayag district, will reopen in April-May 2026 with the onset of summer.