Kedarnath shrine to reopen on May 9

Dehradun: The sacred portals of Kedarnath shrine will be thrown open to the public on May 9 after nearly a six-month winter break during which the famous Himalayan temple remains snowbound.

The doors of Kedarnath will be reopened for devotees after necessary rituals at 7 AM on May 9, Mandir Samiti sources said on Monday.

The auspicious date and hour for the reopening of the temple were fixed by Rawal (head priest) of the temple Bhima Shankar Ling on the occasion of Mahashivratri at Ukhimath's Omkareshwar temple where Lord Shiva is worshipped during his winter sojourn, the sources said.

Visited annually by lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad, the temple, located at a height of 11,755 feet in Garhwal Himalayas, is closed during winter every year for nearly six months due to snowbound conditions in the area.

Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, the other three Himalayan shrines which are part of Uttarakhand's Char dham circuit besides Kedarnath, also reopen in May.

While Gangotri and Yamunotri are also scheduled to reopen on May 9 when Kedarnath reopens, Badrinath will be thrown open to devotees on May 11.