The portals of Kedarnath shrine, also known as the 11th jyotirlinga, will open on May 10, 2024 at 7 am this Chardham pilgrimage season, the BKTC informed as it released the shrine calendar for pilgrims on Friday.
Kedarnath temple. Representational image
The Kedarnath pilgrimage for 2024 will commence on May 10. The Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) announced this on Friday after the Kedarnath shrine priests released the dates of opening the portals amid traditional rituals.
The portals of Kedarnath shrine, also known as the 11th jyotirlinga, will open on May 10, 2024 at 7 am this Chardham pilgrimage season, the BKTC informed as it released the shrine calendar for pilgrims on Friday.
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The committee said that before the opening of the portals, the worship of Lord Bhairavnath at Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath will be completed on May 5. Significantly, Lord Kedarnath and Bhairavnath remain seated at Omkareshwar temple every year after the closure of Kedarnath portals for six months in the winter.
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Following this, on May 6, the Panchmukhi (five-faced) bhog idol of Lord Kedarnath will begin journey from his panchkedar seat at Omkareshwar Temple and reach the Kedarnath shrine area on May 9.
Sharing the details on the occasion of Shivratri, BKTC chairman Ajayendra Ajay informed that the date of opening the Kedarnath shrine portals was finalised after the traditional puja performed by the shrine rawal, acharyas and vedpathis at Omkareshwar Temple. This was followed by the specific rituals and calculation of the panchanga (Hindu calendar) to finalise the date of opening the Kedarnath temple portals.
Ajay stated that the panchmukhi idol of Lord Kedarnath will formally depart from Omkareshwar on May 6 and pass through different traditional stops before arriving at the Kedarnath shrine area. The first stop will be Guptkashi on May 6, the second Fata on May 7, the third Gaurikund on May 8, and finally the idol will arrive at the Kedarnath Dham on May 9 evening.
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