Prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

Prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The deathly silence brooding over Kedarnath since the June calamity hit Uttarakhand broke on Wednesday morning by the chanting of Vedic hymns as prayers resumed at the Himalayan shrine.

After 86 days, prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The area has been cleared of bodies, however, the administration will still continue its sensitive task of scanning the area for more.

After 86 days, prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

"We will do the shudhi (purification) first, we do know that lots of people want to do kar seva, but they can all come once things settle down," Chief priest Bheema Shankar said.

After 86 days, prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The ceremony is expected to go on for about four hours, the priest said.

After 86 days, prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The prayers commenced on Wednesday on Sarwartha Siddi Yog, considered to be auspicious.

After 86 days, prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The Puja began with a 'shuddhikaran' (purification) of the temple and 'prayashchitikaran' (atonement for prolonged suspension of prayers at the shrine).

After 86 days, prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The shrine reverberated with the collective recitals of Vedic hymns and blowing of conch shells.

Prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The chief priest was accompanied by a large number of teeth purohits and Badrinath Kedarnath Samiti officials.

Prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

Prayers at the shrine were suspended after the flash floods wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand.

Prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The resumption of prayers at the 13,500 ft-high shrine is of limited nature, as no pilgrim is being allowed right now to visit the temple.

Prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The Puja began with a 'shuddhikaran' (purification) of the temple and 'prayashchitikaran' (atonement for prolonged suspension of prayers at the shrine).

Prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The Kedar Valley is enveloped in a thick veil of fog.

Prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

The prayers commenced on Wednesday on Sarwartha Siddi Yog, considered to be auspicious.

Prayers resume at Kedarnath Temple

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, who was also scheduled to attend the prayers along with some of his ministerial colleagues, could not take off from Dehradun due to inclement weather.