The doors of the Kedarnath temple were closed for the winter season on Thursday. With this, Baba Kedarnath has entered into Samadhi for six months. During this time, the deity will take charge of the worship of the temple. The process of Samadhi of the Swayambhu Shivling of Kedarnath is unique, which was conducted in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple for two hours with the chanting of Vedic mantras. During this time, only a few Acharya Brahmins and people of Kedar Sabha were present in the sanctum sanctorum. On the eve of the closing of the temple doors, thousands of devotees from India and abroad performed Jalabhishek of Lord Kedarnath from 10 pm on Wednesday night to 3 am on Thursday. After this, the Samadhi worship of Kedarnath started from 4 am in the morning, during which the entry of devotees into the sanctum sanctorum was prohibited. Lord Kedarnath was consecrated in the presence of Kedar Sabha President Pandit Rajkumar Tiwari, General Secretary Ankit Semwal, Priest Bagesh Ling, BKTC CEO Vijay Prasad Thapliyal, Dharmadhikari Omkar Shukla, and Roshan Lal Trivedi. The sanctum sanctorum was closed for the winter season. During this period, the Kedarnath Swayambhu Linga was covered with ghee, white cloth, Baghambar, local grains (rice and wheat), Kumja and Bukla flowers (local flowers), Brahma Kamal, flowers, leaves, ashes, and Rudraksha. The Lord’s Samadhi Puja was completed at 6 a.m. After Baba Kedarnath was consecrated, all those present in the sanctum sanctorum returned to the Sabhamandap, and the sanctum sanctorum was closed for the winter season. This ritual of consecrating Baba Kedarnath’s Swayambhu Linga is extremely difficult and is completed with the chanting of various Vedic mantras. According to Pandit Ankit Semwal, there is a religious belief that the deities are responsible for the worship of the Kedarnath temple for the six months of winter. The ancient tradition of worship at the temple for six months by humans and six months by deities is still observed. Kedarnath Baba’s Panchmukhi Doli Arrives in Rampur The Panchmukhi Doli, the movable idol of Baba Kedarnath, arrived in Rampur on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Locals and pilgrims alike paid their respects to Baba Kedarnath and showered flowers on the Doli. The Doli will stay overnight. Bhajans, kirtans, and cultural programs will be presented by the Mahila Mangal Dal. Accompanying the Doli are Pradeep Semwal, Doli Incharge of BKTC, Dharmendra Tiwari from the Panchgai Committee, and Ankit Semwal, General Secretary of the Kedar Sabha. The doors of the Gauri Mai Temple in Gaurikund were closed for the winter season with due rituals at 8 a.m. on Thursday. Hundreds of devotees visited and received blessings from Gauri Mata. Sampurnanand Goswami, the head priest of the Gauri Temple, stated that a special puja was held for Goddess Gauri before the temple doors were closed. The puja had been ongoing since early morning. At 8 a.m., the temple doors were closed with Vedic chanting as per the prescribed rituals. For six months, the worship of Goddess Gauri will be performed in Gauri village. Village head Kusum Devi, Vijayram Goswami, Ramchandra Goswami, Anup, Dhirendra Goswami, and others were present on the occasion. Police, pilgrim priests, and traders organized feasts. On the occasion of the closing of the Kedarnath temple doors, priests and traders organized feasts. Eight feasts were organized in the Kedarnath temple area. The feasts were organized under the direction of Pandit Rajkumar Tiwari, President of the Kedar Sabha. Thousands of devotees partook in the feasts. Additionally, the Kedarnath Police Outpost organized a feast for devotees near the police outpost at the base camp. The police force welcomed the Panchmukhi Doli of Kedarnath and provided food to the pilgrims walking on foot at the Bhandara. The closing of the doors of Kedarnath was as follows: 10 pm – The water abhishek of the Kedarnath Swayambhu Linga began. 3 am – Entry of devotees into the Kedarnath sanctum sanctorum was restricted. 4 am – The Samadhi Puja of Kedarnath began. 6 am – After the Samadhi Puja was completed, the doors of the temple sanctum sanctorum were closed. 8:20 am – The Panchmukhi Doli, the movable idol of Kedarnath Baba, arrived at the temple premises. 8:30 am – The south gate of the Kedarnath temple closed. The doors of Kedarnath closed for the winter season.
