PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Jyotirmath Amid Vedic chants and music played by the Indian Army band, the portals of revered Kedarnath Dham closed for the winter at 8:30 AM on Wednesday. Thousands gathered to watch the portal closing ceremony and departure of the sacred Panchmukhi Utsav Doli of Lord Kedar on its journey to its winter home at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, where devotees can seek blessings for the next six months. As per the scheduled programme, the Utsav Doli will make its first overnight halt in Rampur. From there the palanquin will arrive in Guptkashi on November 12 before reaching its winter abode in Ukhimath, the next day. Traditional winter rituals and prayers for Lord Kedarnath will commence there immediately. This year, the Kedarnath pilgrimage concluded with a mammoth turnout, drawing over 19 lakh devotees to the ancient Himalayan shrine. Among those present on this sacred occasion were the district magistrate, Rudraprayag, Vishal Mishra; superintendent of police, Rudraprayag, Niharika Tomar and the chairman of Badri-Kedar Temple Committee Hemant Dwivedi.
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