Portals of Kedarnath thrown open for devotees, laser show among new features for Pilgrims

The portals of the Kedarnath temple, a famous Hindu shrine in Garhwal Himalayas, were thrown open on Sunday after a six-month winter break.

The gates of the holy Hindu shrine were opened by Rawal Bhimashankar Ling at 6.15 AM in the presence of local administrative and temple committee officials.

Uttarakhand Governor KK Paul and Speaker Premchand Aggarwal were among the first to offer prayers at the Kedarnath temple.

The idol of baba Kedar, which was kept at Ukhimath’s Omkareshwar Temple for prayers in winter, was brought to Kedarnath and installed in sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

All the rituals were performed and Vedic hymns chanted before the main gates of the temple were thrown open for the pilgrims.

This year, several new attractions were added to the Kedarnath temple and devotees would be able to watch the laser show on Lord Shiva.

After Kedarnath, the portals of Badrinath temple will reopen on Monday.

Portals of the four famous Himalayan shrines of Uttarakhand are closed every year with the onset of winter as they become snowbound and reopened with the start of summer.

(With inputs from agencies)