The portals of Kedarnath Dham, the renowned eleventh Jyotirlinga, were ceremoniously closed for the winter season at 8:30 am on Thursday, October 23, coinciding with Bhai Dooj (Kartik Shukla Saptami, Anuradha Nakshatra). Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the occasion. Before the closure, the temple was beautifully decorated with flowers, while devotional music from the Indian Army band and chants of "Jai Baba Kedar" filled the air. Despite the chilly weather, around 10,000 devotees witnessed the historic event.

As part of the rituals, temple priests, led by Chief Priest Bagesh Ling, performed yajna, havan, and samadhi pujan during Brahmamuhurta. The swayambhu Shivling of Lord Kedarnath was adorned with local sacred flowers, dried flowers, and leaves, symbolically forming a samadhi. The sanctum doors were then closed amid chants, marking the start of the winter season. CM Dhami also participated in the ceremonial closure of the eastern and southern gates. The Panchmukhi Utsav Doli (five-faced ceremonial palanquin) of Lord Kedarnath was carried in a grand procession around the temple complex before commencing its first halt at Rampur, accompanied by chants and devotional music.

CM Dhami extended greetings to devotees from across India and abroad, highlighting that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Kedarpuri has undergone significant reconstruction and divine transformation. He noted that over 5 million pilgrims visited the Char Dham shrines in 2025, a record number, and encouraged devotees to undertake the winter Char Dham pilgrimage to visit the winter abodes (gaddi sthals) of the deities. He emphasized that winter pilgrimages sustain devotion and support local communities, including traders, homestay owners, and hoteliers.

The Chief Minister thanked all involved in the pilgrimage, including security personnel, temple committees, local residents, voluntary organizations, and devotees, for ensuring a safe and well-organized yatra. He noted that the 2025 Kedarnath pilgrimage saw 17,68,795 pilgrims, about 1.25 lakh more than in 2024. Despite a few natural challenges, the yatra period remained peaceful, and robust security arrangements will continue during winter along with traditional worship rituals. Following the closure, Baba Kedar’s Panchmukhi Utsav Doli will rest tonight at Rampur, then proceed to Shri Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi on October 24, and reach the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath on October 25.