Overview
- The portals of Gangotri closed on Tuesday, November 10, and priests escorted the Utsav doli of Goddess Ganga on foot toward Mukhba/Mukhimath with overnight halts at local temples.
- Kedarnath and Yamunotri portals closed on Wednesday morning, November 11, with Kedarnath’s ceremonial palanquin taken to Omkareshwar in Ukhimath and Yamunotri’s doli moved to the Kharsali Yamuna Temple for winter worship.
- Closure rites followed prescribed religious procedures such as the ceremonial removal of crowns, Vedic chanting and special prayers, and processions were accompanied by traditional drums and an Army band.
- District administrations and police carried out on-site inspections and placed health, disaster management, public works and civic departments on high alert to manage large crowds, sanitation, water, electricity and medical needs.
- This season’s pilgrimage pressure was unusually high—Gangotri recorded over one million visitors since April 19—so the idols will remain at winter abodes for about six months and are expected to return around Akshaya Tritiya (April–May) when high-altitude doors reopen.