The ceremonial palanquin of lord Kedarnath began its journey towards the shrine with devotees carrying the lord ceremoniously from his winter residence at Ukhimath on Sunday. The departure of the ceremonial palanquin of lord Kedarnath marked the ritual process of reopening of the portals of the Kedarnath shrine to the public.
On Sunday, lord Bhairavnath was ceremoniously worshipped at the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath. After this ritual, the ceremonial palanquin of lord Kedarnath was carried by the devotees on its journey from his winter abode to the Kedarnath temple. It will be recalled here that the presiding deity of Kedarnath temple remains inaccessible to the public at the high altitude shrine during the winters when the entre region is covered in snow. During the six months of winter, the presiding deity of Kedarnath is seated at the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath. This year, the portals of the Kedarnath shrine are slated to be reopened to the public on May 3 with multitudes of devotees including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expected to remain present at Kedarnath on the occasion.
The rituals for reopening of the ancient shrine began on Sunday morning first with a ceremonial worship of lord Kedarnath followed by a ritual worship of his Kshetrapal lord Bhairavnath. After the ceremonial worship of the deities, the ceremonial palanquin of lord Kedarnath was carried out of the temple to the beats of traditional dhol-nagada. The chief priest of Kedarnath, Bhima Shankar linga and priest Vagesh linga offered Bhog to the lord. The occasion was marked by the gathering of locals and devotees hailing the lord Kedarnath.
This also marked the start of the Utsav Doli of lord Kedarnath. After this, the ceremonial procession of lord Kedarnath left his winter abode of Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath and departed for his summer abode of Kedarnath temple at about 9 AM. The ritual procession will make a night halt at Fata village after which on the morning of May 1 the procession will depart for Gaurikund. On May 2, the ceremonial procession of lord Kedarnath will depart from Gaurikund to its final halt- the temple township of Kedarnath where the portals of the shrine are slated to be reopened to the public on the morning of May 3. The Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) chief executive officer BD Singh said that all preparations have been made for the reopening of the portals of Kedarnath shrine on the morning of May 3.