Rudraprayag, May 10: The portals or doors of Kedarnath Dham, one of the country's oldest and most sacred pilgrimage sites, were thrown open to devotees on Friday.

The portals were opened through rituals and the ceremonial chanting of hymns after a gap of six months, including the peak winter phase.

Chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' rang out from among the crowd of devotees, who gathered for the ceremony, as the portals were thrown open to the chanting of shlokas (hymns).

Ahead of the ceremonial opening of one of the country's holiest places of worship, the abode of Lord Shiva was decorated with 40 quintals of petals.

One of the most revered temples in the country dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, Kedarnath draws countless devotees and visitors from across the country and beyond during the six months that it stays open.

The doors of Baba Kedarnath Dham were opened at 7 am for a darshan or sighting of the deity.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, along with his wife Geeta Dhami, was present for the darshan of Baba Kedarnath at the time the temple doors were thrown open to shlokas and chants to the glory of Lord Shiva.

(ANI)