Kedarnath: Pooja began this morning at 7 am at the holy Kedarnath shrine, the first since flash flood devastated the shrine on the night of June 16.
The priests first performed 'shuddhi karan' (cleansing) rites of the 'garbha griha' (sanctum sanctorum), and it was soon followed by a havan (fire ritual) in the presence of Mukhya Rawal (chief priest), members of shrine committee and Uttarakhand senior minister Harak Singh Rawat.
This was followed by another 'havan' (fire ritual) outside the sanctum sanctorum to purify the entire premises, where flash flood had deposited bodies and mud swept by it on that fateful night.
Bad weather prevented choppers from taking off at Guptkashi.
Intermittent rains continue at Kedar valley.
