Amid surging Covid-19 cases in the country, Shri Hemkunt Sahib Yatra in Uttarakhand was postponed on Sunday. The Yatra was slated to commence from May 10. Last year, the yatra was delayed by three months due to the pandemic.
Hemkund Sahib, the highest Gurudwara of the Sikhs, is located at an altitude of 4329 mts in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This pilgrimage place is dedicated to the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) and also finds its mention in Dasam Grant, a work dedicated to the Guru himself. It is believed that Guru Gobind Singh had meditated at Hemkunt in his previous birth.
There is also a small temple of Lakshman, Lord Ram’s brother bedecked on the shore of Hemkunt Lake.
Earlier, Haridwar Kumbh Mela was cut short after the large gathering was criticised by a section of social media for violating Covid-19 norms. The religious congregation, earlier slated to end on April 30, concluded on April 17.
Seeing the condition in the country, the management had released an official press release that stated that the Yatra won’t take place on May 10, as decided earlier. The statement read, “Due to the ongoing increase in the pandemic, the situation in the country and state is not conducive to start the Yatra on the 10th of May as announced earlier. Keeping in mind the safety of the pilgrims, Gurudwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust has decided to postpone the Yatra which was to commence on the 10th of May 2021. The next date for the opening has not been decided and as and when it is done, the Trust will inform the Sangat.”
Uttarakhand government on Sunday imposed a curfew in Dehradun district’s Rishikesh, Dehradun, Garhi Cantt and Clement Town’s municipal areas in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus. The curfew will be in effect from 7 pm on 26 April till 5 am on 3 May.
