More than 17.50 lakh visited Kedarnath during this year’s Yatra period PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun/Uttarkashi The portals of Kedarnath and Yamunotri were ceremoniously closed to the public for the winter on the occasion of Bhaiya Dooj on Thursday. Despite the cold weather, about 10,000 devotees were present in Kedarnath on the occasion which also saw chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offering prayers in the temple. According to officials, more than 17.50 lakh people visited Kedarnath during the Yatra period this year. Rituals began early in the morning in Kedarnath with the portals being closed ceremoniously to the public at 8:30 PM. The temple had been decorated with flowers while an army band played as thousands of devotees raised chants of ‘Jai Baba Kedar’. The chief priest Bageshling and Acharyas conducted Yagya and other rituals including Samadhi Pujan. The Shiv Ling was covered in various local flowers before the temple was ritually closed for the winter. The eastern and southern doors of the temple were ceremoniously closed in the presence of the chief minister. The Panchmukhi Utsav Doli of lord Kedarnath circumambulated the temple before departing for its first stop of Rampur on its way to the lord’s winter abode in Ukhimath. Dhami greeted the multitudes from across India and abroad who had gathered to witness the occasion. He said that reconstruction work has been undertaken on a grand scale in Kedarnath according to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that more than 50 lakh people had visited the Char Dham during the Yatra period in 2025. The CM said that the State government is also encouraging the winter Yatra after closure of the Char Dham so that devotees are able to offer prayers in the winter abodes of the Char Dham deities. Exhorting the devotees to undertake the winter Yatra, he said that this will also ensure continuation of the livelihoods of local traders, homestay and hotel operators during the winter. Thanking all departments concerned and other stakeholders for the successful Yatra this year, Dhami said that 17,68,795 people had visited Kedarnath this year compared to 16, 52,076 in 2024. In Uttarkashi, the portals of Yamunotri were ceremoniously closed for the winter at 12:30 PM amidst Vedic rituals. The Bhog Murti Doli of goddess Yamuna then departed along with her brother Shani Dev towards her winter abode in Kharsali. The rituals began early in the morning with special Pooja-Abhishek, Bhog and other religious rituals. A large number of devotees from across India and abroad were present on the occasion. According to officials, a total of 6,44,505 people visited Yamunotri during the Yatra period this year. The combined footfall in Gangotri and Yamunotri crossed 14 lakh this year.
About The Author
