The portals of the Kedarnath shrine and Yamunotri shrine were closed to the public for the winters on Tuesday.
The number of devotees present at both the shrines on the occasion was considerably less this year compared to past years as the recent disaster and damaged state of the roads prevented many from reaching these shrines.
Following the closure of the portals of the Gangotri shrine on Monday, the portals of Kedarnath and Yamunotri shrines were ceremonially closed to the public for the winters on Tuesday amid Vedic chants.
In Kedarnath, the head priest Bhima Shankar ling led the ceremonies which saw the ceremonial idol of lord Kedarnath being transported in a palanquin carried by devotees.
The portals of this shrine were closed at 8 am. The palanquin will halt for a night stay at Rampur after which it is expected to reach the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath on the next day. The lord is worshipped at this shrine in Ukhimath, while the Kedarnath temple remains closed for devotees during the winters. Due to the recent disaster and damaged roads, only about 100 people were present on the occasion at Kedarnath. It will be recalled that the flash floods and landslides experienced on June
16-17 had caused maximum damage at Kedarnath where hundreds of people had died and most of the constructions here were either damaged or destroyed.
Meanwhile, the Yamunotri shrine was also closed for the winters on Tuesdayafternoon amid Vedic chants. Devotees carried the ceremonial idol of Goddess Yamuna in a palanquin towards the winter residence of the goddess at Kharsali. The palanquin of Goddess Ganga from Gangotri reached her winter abode of Mukhba on Tuesday. With three of the Char Dham shrines being closed to the public for the winter, the last shrine to be closed will be Badarinath on November 18.