Prayers resume at Kedarnath temple

The Kedarnath temple, the site of death and untold devastation wreaked by the flash floods in Uttarakhand almost three months ago, today observed its first puja in a symbolic opening.

The four-hour long puja began shortly after 7: 30 am.

State officials, priests, ministers and journalists were present to witness the puja.

The temple's chief priest, Rawal Bhima Shankar Ling Shivacharya, unlocked the portals of the temple and stepped into the sanctum-sanctorum to perform the puja.

The puja began with a 'shuddhikaran' (purification) of the temple and 'prayashchitikaran' (atonement for prolonged suspension of prayers at the shrine).

Nearly 300 workers from the state Public Works Department (PWD) had worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the temple's opening.They have succeeded in clearing debris from only 50 metres around the temple; the path to the temple's sanctum sanctorum has also been cleared.

The resumption of prayers at the shrine, located at a height of 13,500 feet is of limited nature, as no pilgrim is being allowed to visit the temple.

Priests along with temple committee members perform prayers at the Kedarnath temple.