Portals of Hemkund Sahib opens amid snow

Tribune News Service

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Dehradun, June 1

Thousands of devotees braved an early morning drizzle and snowfall to pay obeisance at Hemkund Sahib as the sacred portals of the shrine located in Chamoli opened today after their closure for winters.

The gurdwara was declared open after special prayers at 10 am. Devotees took a dip in the icy waters of Hemkund Sarovar.

Vice-chairman of the Shri Hemkund Sahib Management Trust Narendrajit Singh Bindra while talking to TNS said a large number of devotees attended the opening ceremony of the gurdwara situated at an altitude of 15,200 ft.

He said snowfall lashed the gurdwara and the adjoining places at the time of the opening ceremony. The first batch of devotees arrived early this morning and the bhog of Akhand Path was held.

Bindra said infrastructure at Govindghat and Ghangaria which was damaged in the 2013 disaster had been reconstructed.

He said the pedestrian route had also been repaired to ensure hassle-free pilgrimage.