The doors of Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara, a revered Sikh pilgrimage site located in the upper Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, were opened to devotees on Sunday.
The ceremonial opening took place following the arrival of the ‘Panj Pyare’ in the morning, with the doors being opened amid the recitation of Guru Ardas, Shabad Kirtan, and Gurbani. With this, the annual pilgrimage to Shri Hemkund Sahib has officially commenced.
Perched at an altitude of 15,000 feet, the gurudwara was beautifully adorned with flowers and colorful flags for the occasion. Narendrajit Singh Bindra, President of the Hemkund Gurudwara Trust, along with other officials, was also present.
Despite snow covering the shrine’s area, a clear path has been created to facilitate devotees’ movement.
On Saturday, the first Sikh pilgrims, led by the ‘Panj Pyare’ from Govindghat Gurudwara, began their journey towards Hemkund Sahib, carrying the holy Nishan Sahib. The group spent the night at Ghangaria Gurudwara before proceeding to the shrine on Sunday morning amid spirited chants of “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal.”
The pilgrimage season to Hemkund Sahib begins in May and continues until October each year, drawing lakhs of devotees from India and abroad.
The police have made necessary arrangements to ensure the safety and smooth passage of pilgrims, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed at key points along the pilgrimage route.
