Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, announced that the Kedarnath Temple will open on May 10 for devotees at 7 a.m.

The committee further informed that the Panchmukhi Doli will depart for Kedarnath Dham on May 6 and will reach Kedarnath Dham on May 9 evening after passing through various stops. During a religious ceremony held at the Pachkadar Gaddi Sthal Shri Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee President Ajendra Ajay announced the date of opening the portals.

The temple authorities closed the doors of the temple on November 15, 2023, ahead of the winter season. At the ceremony, the Indian Army played devotional sounds, and two thousand pilgrims witnessed the event.

Why does Kedarnath Dham get closed in the winter season every year?

Heavy snowfall in the winter season forces the authorities to close all routes to Kedarnath Dham for six months. Every year after Diwali, on the occasion of Bhai Dooj in winter, the temple authorities close the doors of the Dham. The temple then reopens in April or May.  

Significance of the Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple is one of the eleven Jyotirlingas in India. Thousands of devotees and pilgrims visit the holy Hindu site each year. The pilgrimage is a component of Uttarakhand’s well-known Char Dham Yatra. Pilgrims visit four sacred Hindu sites during the yatra—Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. All are located high in the Himalayas. Devotees from around the world consider the temple’s opening and closing highly significant. They gather in large numbers to witness these sacred moments. Pilgrims can reach Kedarnath Dham by undertaking a challenging trek or by taking a helicopter ride. Kedarnath Dham offers a calm and peaceful atmosphere where devotees can indulge themselves in prayers and meditate in the beauty of the Himalayas.

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