By Our Staff Reporter
Rishikesh, 17 May: The first batch of 250 Sikh pilgrims left for Govindghat from the Gurdwara located on Laxman Jhula Road, Rishikesh, here, today. Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the first batch of pilgrims and flagged them off here today. The Yatra to Hemkund Sahib will formally begin with the opening of the portals of the Gurdwara on 20 May. On the same day, the portals of Lokpal Laxman Temple located near the Gurdwara will also open.
Earlier, the Governor and the CM offered Ardas along with the devotees at the Gurudwara. Devotees from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan are included in the first batch for the Hemkund Sahib Yatra.
Departing from the Rishikesh Gurdwara, the first batch is expected to reach Panj Pyare Govindghat Gurdwara later this evening, from where they will leave for Ghangaria tomorrow and reach Hemkund Gurdwara on the designated day.
The Governor also extended best wishes to all the devotees going on the Hemkund Yatra.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor observed that it is a very auspicious day today as it is the day of commencement of Hemkund Sahib Yatra. Congratulating the first batch, he wished them a safe and auspicious pilgrimage full of reverence and devotion.
The Governor also recalled the Sikh Gurus and their teachings. The Gurus taught important lessons on the strategy of war and their slogan was “Nishchay kar apni jeet karo”. They also preached staying away from condemnation, backbiting and stressed on the need to serve the needy. He added that the Sikh Gurus had provided the followers the knowledge of weapons, skills like horse riding and preached to everyone to follow the path of self-respect, courage, sacrifice, hard work and service and the need to stay away from intoxication. He said that the message of ‘Sawa Lakh Te Ek Ladawan’ is the essence of the teachings of indomitable courage.
The Governor emphasised that this land of Uttarakhand is a rich land of Guru tradition. Every traveller coming to Hemkund Sahib is the brand ambassador for the state and that it is the endeavour of the administration and the local people to ensure that every devotee leaves Uttarakhand fully satisfied. It was a matter of great pleasure that more than two thousand devotees had already registered themselves for Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage. The Governor also paid tribute to the great souls who discovered the Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara site and expressed happiness at the work, arrangements and the health ATMs that have been installed by the state government on the yatra route.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that all necessary arrangements have been made by the state government for the pilgrims. He appealed to all the devotees to get their health tests done before leaving. The Chief Minister said that the Chardham Yatra of Uttarakhand is also at its peak. Last year more than 50 lakh devotees had visited the Chardham. Even more devotees are expected to come this year. He said it is the endeavour of the state government to make sure that all possible arrangements are made for the convenience of the devotees. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for laying the foundation stone of the ropeways for Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib, Dhami said the journey will become smooth and easy with the construction of these two ropeways. After the commencement of the Karnaprayag-Rishikesh rail line, the journey to Hemkund Sahib would become easier.
Cabinet Ministers Satpal Maharaj, Subodh Uniyal, Prem Chand Aggarwal, MP and former Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Mayor, Rishikesh, Anita Mamgai, Women Commission Chairperson Kusum Kandwal and Gurdwara Hemkund Sahib Management Trust Chairman Narendra Jit Singh Bindra were present on the occasion.
