SunstarTV Bureau: The shrine of Kedarnath is announced close on account of heavy snowfall for winter on the occasion of Bhai Dooj on Monday.
The temples around Kendarnath are covered in a layer of snow and surrounding hill received fresh spells of snowfall, yesterday.
Pilgrims are restricted to visit the shine till the next government notice. As Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Yogi Adityanath and Trivendra Singh Rawat had arrived at the Kedarnath temple to offer prayers and participate in the portal closing ceremony of the shrine during the early hours of Monday.
The revered shrine is located in the Garhwal Himalayan range near the bank of river Mandakini, which includes a 22-km uphill trek from Gaurikund.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Uttarakhand- the state will witness very light to light rainfall or snowfall at a few places in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts and at isolated places in Tehri, Dehradun and Almora districts.
Moreover, dry weather likely to prevail in the remaining districts of the state..
This year, 1, 35,023 pilgrims visited Kedarnath, which had delayed and restricted opening for the devotees due to Covid-19.
Though the temple gates were opened on April 29, it was open only for priests until July 1.
