Uttarakhand: Pilgrims leave for Hemkund Sahib, portals to open on September 4

The first batch of Sikh pilgrims arrived in Uttarakhand on Sunday as the Hemkund Sahib portals will open for devotees from September 4. The 10th Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh performed meditation at Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib.

Dehradun:The first batch of 14 pilgrims from the national capital arrived in Srinagar of Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand on Sunday evening as the portals of Hemkund Sahib is scheduled to open on September 4.

The district administration had said on August 19 that the pilgrimage for Gurudwara Shri Humkund Sahib and Lokpal Laxman Temple in the Chamoli district will be thrown open from 4 a.m. on September 4.

Amid the prevailing extraordinary circumstances, the Hemkund Sahib annual yatra was to begin from June 1. However, owing to the increase in coronavirus cases, it was rescheduled to open in September.

Harvinder Singh Lakki, the manager of the Gurudwara said that the portals of revered Sikh shrine Hemkund Sahib will remain open till October 10. He also explained, besides COVID-19 negative certificate, the pilgrims are required to carry an e-pass issued by the Uttarakhand government during this yatra. "The coronavirus precautionary measures will have to be followed strictly," Harvinder Singh Lakki added.

The 10th Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh performed meditation at Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib.