The portals of the Kedarnath temple, one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for Hindus, are set to open after winter closure. The doors of the temple, located in the upper Garhwal Himalayas, will be opened on April 25, after a six-month closure during the winter season. The announcement was made by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Mandir Samiti at a ceremony held on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.
The opening ceremony of the temple gates will take place at 6:20 am, according to the Samiti sources. The announcement has brought much joy and excitement to the devotees who have been eagerly waiting for the opening of the temple.
The ceremony was held at the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, which is where the idol of Lord Shiva is kept during the winter months. The idol is brought down from Kedarnath every year after the closure of the temple and is worshipped at the Omkareshwar temple during the winter.
The announcement of the reopening of the Kedarnath temple was made in the presence of officials from the Badrinath-Kedarnath Mandir Samiti, tirth purohits, and officials from the district administration.
Apart from Kedarnath, the other three pilgrimage sites - Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri - which are collectively known as Char Dham, will also be opened for the devotees. Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri are already scheduled to open on April 27 and April 22, respectively.
The Char Dham Yatra is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimages for Hindus, and is undertaken by millions of devotees every year. The yatra starts from Yamunotri, then proceeds to Gangotri, Kedarnath, and finally ends at Badrinath.
The Char Dham temples are closed every year in October-November due to the extreme cold conditions in the region. The reopening of these temples marks the beginning of the yatra season for the devotees, who will now be able to undertake the pilgrimage to the four holy shrines. The reopening of the Kedarnath temple is sure to bring joy and hope to the devotees, who are eagerly waiting to seek blessings from Lord Shiva.