Kedarnath shrine to open for devotees on May 9

The portals of Kedarnath temple, a famous Shiva shrine, will open for devotees on May 9. The shrine will be closed on the day of Bhaiya Duj, a day after Diwali for six months period. 

Every year, the opening date of this sanctum sanctorum is decided on Maha Shivaratri by the local priest of Ukhimath in Rudraprayag district after reading the Panchang (Hindu calendar). During the winter, the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath houses the idols of Lord Shiva from Kedarnath and Madhmaheshwar.  

On May 5, the statue of Lord Shiva will be carried with religious formalities from the Omkareshwar temple to Kedarnath and be reinstated at the shrine there on May 9. The procession will reach Vishwanath temple at Guptkashi the same day and stay there overnight. On May 6, the procession will reach Phata and Gaurikund on May 8. After a trek of 14 km from the base camp, Lord Shiva’s idol will reach Kedarnath on May 8. 

Situated at an altitude of 3, 583 metre, the place is famous for waterfalls, perennial snow-capped mountains and idyllic surroundings. After the flash-floods of 2013, the mid-way Rambarha was completely washed away and new trek route was developed by the state government.