Shri Kedarnath Dham closes for winter; Lord Kedar’s palanquin moves to Ukhimath

The sacred portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand were closed for the winter season on Thursday morning, marking the conclusion of the Chardham Yatra at this shrine for 2025.

For the next six months, Lord Kedarnath will be worshipped at his winter residence in Ukhimath. The closing ceremony was held amid devotional chants and the soulful tunes of the Garhwal Rifles band.

With this, three of the four Char Dham shrines have officially closed for winter. While Gangotri Dham was closed on Wednesday, Kedarnath and Yamunotri Dham followed suit on Thursday. The portals of Badrinath Dham are scheduled to close on November 25, marking the formal conclusion of the Char Dham Yatra 2025.

According to Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee sources, special arrangements were made for devotees to have darshan of Baba Kedar through the night. Devotees were allowed entry from midnight until 4 a.m., after which Baba Kedar’s Samadhi Puja was performed from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. During the ritual, the self-manifested Shivalinga of the deity was ceremonially covered with sacred ashes, grains, fruits, flowers, Rudraksha, and a white cloth, in keeping with tradition. The inner sanctum was sealed at 6 a.m., and the main eastern gate was closed at 8:30 a.m.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was present at the ceremony and offered prayers at the shrine. After the doors were closed, the palanquin (‘doli’) of Lord Kedarnath, carrying the five-headed idol, departed ceremonially for Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, the deity’s winter seat. The palanquin will halt at Rampur for the night, reach Guptkashi on October 24, and arrive at Ukhimath on October 25, where worship will continue for the next six months until the reopening next year.

CM Dhami prayed for happiness, prosperity, and welfare of the people of the state and lauded the well-planned efforts of the government, which ensured a smooth and successful Chardham Yatra this year. He also interacted with pilgrims and priests. Dhami highlighted the significance of the pilgrimage, saying: "This year, a record number of devotees have visited Kedarnath, the abode of Lord Shiva. The Chardham Yatra not only makes an important contribution to the economy of the state but also connects Devbhoomi Uttarakhand with the followers of Sanatan Dharma living all over the world."

He further said: "This year, a record number of pilgrims arrived for the Char Dham Yatra. The journey to Baba Kedar's shrine has now concluded safely. May Baba's blessings remain upon us all. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is developing Uttarakhand as the spiritual capital of Sanatan Dharma."

CM Dhami also inspected ongoing development works in Kedarnath and noted that alongside the four Dhams, various development works are being carried out in temples associated with Manaskhand.

According to official figures, 17.57 lakh devotees visited Kedarnath this year, while a total of 49.67 lakh pilgrims visited Uttarakhand, including the shrines of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Hemkund Sahib. The Char Dham Yatra continues with great enthusiasm until the doors of Badrinath close on November 25. Since April 30, over 4.5 million devotees have visited the Char Dham shrines.