It was taken to Vishwanath temple in Guptakashi, and from there on June 24, it was consecrated at Onkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, the winter sojourn of Lord Kedarnath.
"Since then, the pooja is being performed daily at Ukhimath. At present, no pooja can be performed in the Kedarnath shrine, because of "maran-sootak" (rites despoiled by death). The pooja at Kedarnath can resume only after the temple committee and local administration clears off the mess, and "shuddikaran" (purification) rites will be performed", said the chief Rawal Bhima Shankara Shivacharya Mahaswami.
Annually, when the doors of Kedarnath are closed in autumn for a long wintry sleep till the onset of spring, the idol of Kedarnath are traditionally carried away to Ukhimath by the priests (rawals) for performing pooja during the winter.
