Uttarkashi, Nov 11 — The portals of Shri Yamunotri Dham were ceremoniously closed for the next six months on Wednesday, on the auspicious occasion of Bhai Dooj, amid the chanting of Vedic mantras, news agency IANS reported. Shri Kedarnath Dham was closed earlier in the day, bringing the main Char Dham pilgrimage season in Uttarakhand to an end.
Source: IANS via Dailyworld
The Kedarnath shrine was closed at 8:30 am and Yamunotri's portals shut at 10:28 am, following traditional rituals, Safar Samachar reported. Between them, the two shrines received over 27.97 lakh visitors this season — 19.13 lakh at Kedarnath and 8.84 lakh at Yamunotri.
Source: Safar Samachar
At Yamunotri, a total of 884,742 pilgrims visited the shrine this year and offered prayers to Goddess Yamuna, IANS reported. Following the closure, the ceremonial palanquin of Goddess Yamuna departed for her winter abode at Kharsali, also known as Mukhimath, where prayers and religious ceremonies will continue for the next six months. During the winter, pilgrims wishing to offer prayers to Goddess Yamuna can visit Kharsali instead of the main shrine, which remains inaccessible in the season.
The deity of Lord Kedarnath was moved to the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, and the palanquin will reach the temple on November 13, Safar Samachar reported. It said the wider Char Dham Yatra received 64.41 lakh devotees by November 10, with Kedarnath seeing an increase of 1.45 lakh pilgrims compared to last year and Yamunotri an increase of 2.40 lakh.
Shri Gangotri Dham was closed on November 10, while the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham are scheduled to close on November 13, bringing the annual Char Dham Yatra to an end for the season, IANS reported.
For the next six months, Goddess Yamuna will be worshipped at Kharsali (Mukhimath) and Lord Kedarnath at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, while the high Himalayan shrines remain closed for winter.