Dehra Dun, Oct 27: The famous Hindu shrine of Kedarnath, situated in Garhwal Himalayas in Rudraprayag district of Uttaranchal, was today closed for pilgrims for the winter season. Amid chanting of Vedic hymns, the chief priest of Kedarnath offered early morning prayers in the presence of hundreds of devotees thronging the Siva temple and announced the closure of the shrine for the winters as a white sheet of snow engulfed the whole area.

Snowfall is considered auspicious when the shrine, situated at a height of 3581 meters, is closed for winter, Jagat Singh Bisht, chief executive officer of Badrinath Kedarnath temple committee told. The doors of Badrinath shrine, situated at 3133 meters in Chamoli district, would be closed for winters on the night of November 19, he said.

Meanwhile, two other famous Himalayan shrines of Gangotri (3042 mt) and Yamunotri (3235 mt) in Uttarkashi district were also closed for pilgrims yesterday amid special prayers.

All the four shrines, collectively known as 'Char Dham', would reopen for pilgrims in April-May next year, officials said. Bureau Report