Hemkunt Sahib portals closed

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 16

The portals of Sikh shrine of Hemkunt Sahib in Uttarakhand closed for winters on Saturday.

Narenderjeet Singh Bindra, the trustee of Shri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust and chairman of Uttarakhand Minority Commission, said nearly two lakh devotees had visited the shrine this yatra season. This was an encouraging figure, particularly in the aftermath of 2013 disaster in the region, he said.

Narenderjeet Singh Bindra stated that Takht Patna Sahib jathedar JN Singh had specially come to Hemkunt Sahib to witness the closure ceremony. All arrangements were in place this year and the trek route had undergone marked improvement, he added.

Jathedar JN Singh appealed to the devotees to pay obeisance at Patna Sahib in big numbers and take part in the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh. The shrine of Hemkunt Sahib held much importance for Sikh devotees as it was linked to the tenth Sikh Guru Govind Singh, he added.

Trustees and a large number of devotees were present to witness the closing ceremony of the shrine.