Doors of Baba Kedarnath Closed for the Winter; Over 1.9 Million Devotees Create History

Rudraprayag. The pilgrimage season at the Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand has now come to a close. The doors (kapats) of Baba Kedar have been shut for the winter season. Consequently, public worship at the temple has ceased, and the ritual process of placing the swayambhu (self-manifested) Shiva Linga into a state of samadhi (meditative repose) for the winter has been completed. Thousands of devotees were present at the shrine to witness this significant moment.

The religious rituals for closing the doors began early in the morning at the Kedarnath Temple. Devotees gathered to witness this momentous occasion. In accordance with the scheduled program, the doors of Baba Kedarnath were closed at 8:30 AM, marking the conclusion of this year’s pilgrimage season.

Baba Kedar to Reside Elsewhere During Winter

Every year, the doors of Kedarnath Dham are closed due to heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions during the winter months. Following this, the worship of Baba Kedar continues at his designated winter seat (sheetkalin gaddisthal), where devotees can still visit to offer their prayers. Once the doors are closed, the utsav doli (ceremonial palanquin) of Baba Kedar will depart for its winter abode, accompanied by a traditional procession. Thus, this year’s pilgrimage season at Kedarnath Dham has officially concluded.

The atmosphere at Kedarnath Dham on the day preceding the closure of the doors was truly special. Throughout the day, the temple premises remained bustling with devotees. By evening, a large crowd had gathered. As the final evening aarti commenced, the entire environment became immersed in deep devotion. Amidst the ringing of bells, the chanting of mantras, and the resounding cries of “Jai Baba Kedar,” devotees participated in the final darshan (viewing) of the season. 1,922,138 pilgrims have offered prayers
Despite the challenges posed by the weather and the terrain during this year’s pilgrimage, the enthusiasm of the devotees remained undiminished. People from various parts of the country arrived to seek the blessings of Baba Kedar. The figure of 1,922,138 pilgrims reflects the depth of the people’s faith in Kedarnath Dham. Throughout the pilgrimage, the administration and the temple committee ensured that necessary arrangements were in place for the devotees visiting the shrine.

With the closing of the temple doors, regular public worship and ‘darshan’ at Kedarnath Dham have now ceased for the winter season. However, the worship of Baba Kedar will not stop entirely. In accordance with tradition, during the winter months, Baba will be worshipped at his designated winter seat. Following this custom, the deity’s ceremonial palanquin (‘utsav doli’) will depart from the main shrine, and devotees will be able to visit and offer their prayers at this winter location as well. Devotees will now look forward to the reopening of the Kedarnath shrine in the next pilgrimage season.