The portals of Kedarnath Temple were opened today. The opening ceremony was held at 5 am, news agency ANI reported. The temple was closed on November 16 last year. The first puja was held by priests on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the gates of the famous Himalayan temple were opened at 5 am, a Chardham Devasthanam Board official said. It is for the second consecutive year that COVID has cast a shadow on the pilgrimage to the temple which has been kept out of bounds for pilgrims in view of rising coronavirus cases.