Portals of Hemkund Sahib closed for winter; 3.84 lakh devotees visited the shrine this year

The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Sukhmani Sahib, followed by devotional kirtan by Bhai Gurdial Singh and his jatha, the Hazoori Ragis from Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.

Narinderjit Singh Bindra, chairman of the Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Management Trust, said around 3.84 lakh devotees from across the world visited the shrine this year.

Despite light snowfall that began a day earlier, devotees braved the challenging weather conditions. Around 5,000 pilgrims gathered at Hemkund Sahib to offer prayers on the final day of the pilgrimage season. The annual pilgrimage, which began on May 23, will now resume in summer 2027.

Trust chief executive officer Sewa Singh thanked devotees, the Army, the state government and the district administration for their contributions towards the successful conduct of this year’s yatra.

He appreciated the efforts of the police and the State Disaster Response Force for ensuring the safety and smooth management of pilgrims. He also expressed gratitude to the sewadars and staff serving at various gurdwaras along the route, noting that their dedication and hard work played a crucial role in the successful completion of the yatra.