Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara: The doors of Shri Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara will be closed for devotees on October 11 this year for winter.
Gopeshwar (Uttarakhand): In the high Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, the renowned Shri Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara will close its doors for the winter season on October 11th this year. This Sikh pilgrimage site holds global recognition. The chairman of Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib Management Trust, Narinderjit Singh Bindra, stated in a press release that this year, the decision has been made to close the gates of Shri Hemkund Sahib on October 11th at 1:00 PM. With the closing of the gates, this year’s pilgrimage will come to an end.
Bindra revealed that this year, more than 227,500 devotees have visited and paid their respects at the Guru’s darbar (sanctum). He also mentioned that the number of pilgrims is increasing with the improvement in weather.
He urged pilgrims to embark on their journey in a timely manner since there is limited time left for the gates to close.
To facilitate pilgrims, helicopter services from Govindghat to Ghangaria have been restarted. Additionally, langar (community kitchen) and accommodation facilities are available at all Gurudwaras and Dharamshalas managed by the trust beyond Haridwar.
Gates Opened on May 20th
Narinderjit Singh Bindra, the chairman of Hemkund Sahib Trust, informed that the gates of Hemkund Sahib were opened for devotees on May 20th this year. So far, more than 227,500 pilgrims have paid their respects at the Hemkund Gurudwara.
Ongoing Rainfall
This year, heavy snowfall had been present in Hemkund Sahib since the opening of the gates. Soldiers had cleared paths through the snow for pilgrims. While there is no accumulated snow now, rainfall continues.
Helicopter Services Resumed
Following reduced rainfall, helicopter services from Govindghat to Ghangaria have resumed. Taking note of the increasing number of pilgrims, a Gurudwara and Dharamshala are being constructed in Rudraprayag to accommodate them.
