Guptkashi: On the auspicious occasion of Bhaiya Dooj, the doors of the eleventh Jyotirlinga Lord Kedarnath were closed for the winter season at 8:30 am. More than two and a half thousand devotees witnessed the closure of the doors and the entire Dham resonated with the hail of Baba Kedar. Panchmukhi Doli of Lord Kedar has left for Ukhimath.
Special worship started from 4 am
Kedarnath temple was opened at three in the morning. The Samadhi Puja process of closing the doors started from 4 o’clock. The priest T Gangadhar Linga gave a samadhi form to the self-styled Jyotirlinga of Lord Kedarnath. Jyotirlinga was covered with Baghambar, Bhringraj flower, Bhasma, local dry flowers and leaves etc. Along with this, with the call of Bhakunt Bhairavnath, the sanctum sanctorum and the main gate were closed in the presence of the district administration. Along with this the east gate was also sealed.
Chief Minister expressed gratitude
State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami thanked the pilgrims on the occasion of closure of the doors of Shri Kedarnath Dham. Said that this time a record forty five lakh pilgrims have reached Chardham Yatra. New Kedarpuri has come into existence under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where all possible facilities are being provided to the pilgrims. With the construction of Gaurikund-Kedarnath Ropeway, Kedarnath Yatra will become more convenient.
Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that the Yatra is being completed successfully due to the efforts of the State Government. Record devotees also reached Kedarnath Dham.
On this occasion, Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee President Ajendra Ajay, Pankaj Modi, Temple Committee Vice President Kishore Panwar, District Administration Police Officers, Joint Secretary of Kedarnath Utthan Charitable Trust / Temple Committee Chief Executive Officer Yogendra Singh, Traveling Magistrate Gopal Ram Binwal, Tehsildar Diwan Singh Rana, Executive Officer RC Tiwari, Dharmadhikari Omkar Shukla, Kedarnath Sabha President Vinod Shukla, Temple Committee media in-charge Dr. Harish Gaur, etc. were present.
The dham resonated with the annals of Baba Kedar
During this, Kedarnath Dham resonated with the devotional tunes of the band of Army’s 11 Maratha Light Frontary Rudraprayag and the chants of Baba Kedar ki Jai. Temple Committee President Ajendra Ajay said that the Yatra has been completed successfully with the collective cooperation and coordination. He thanked everyone for cooperation including Tourism Department, Endowment Department, State Information Department.
Panchmukhi Doli of Lord Kedar departs for Ukhimath
After the closure of the doors, the Panchmukhi Doli of Lord Kedarnath ji left for the winter seat of Shri Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath. Today Panchmukhi Doli will reach the first stage of Rampur. Tomorrow, on Friday, October 28, Devdoli will visit Shri Vishwanath Temple, Guptkashi and will reach Shri Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath on Saturday, October 29.
With this, Shri Kedarnath Yatra will come to an end this year. Now the winter worship of Lord Kedarnath ji will start at Panchkedar Gaddi Sthal Shri Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath.
Pilgrims arrived in record numbers
This year 1561882 pilgrims visited Lord Kedarnath. In this Yatra year, a record forty three lakh pilgrims reached the Char Dham Yatra. Including Hemkunt Sahib, this number reached forty-six lakhs.
The media in-charge of Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, Dr. Harish Gaur told that on November 19, the doors of Shri Badrinath Dham will be closed for winter. Whereas the doors of Shri Hemkunt Sahib-Laxman Temple were closed on 10 October.
The doors of second Kedar Tungnath ji will be closed on 7th November and second Kedar Shri Madmaheshwar ji on 18th November. With this, the successful completion of this year’s Char Dham Yatra will be completed.
