First Batch of Shri Hemkund Saheb Yatra flaggged off by Gov and CM from Rishikesh

DAINIK NATION BUREAU/RISHIKESH

First batch of Shri Hemkund Saheb yatra flagged off from Rishikesh today. It was jointly flagged off by Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (Retd) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Although the Hemkund Saheb doors will open on May 25.

Greetings to the first batch of devotees, the Governor described the pilgrimage to Hemkund Saheb, located at an altitude of 15,000 feet, as a symbol of deep faith, patience, and courage. “This difficult 18-kilometre trek tests the devotion of every yatri,” he said, adding that the government is committed to making the yatra safer and more convenient each year.

He praised the comprehensive preparations made by the district administration and the Shri Hemkund Saheb Gurudwara Management Trust to ensure smooth travel for the pilgrims. Emphasizing the importance of responsible tourism, he urged devotees to maintain a plastic-free environment and support the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative by purchasing locally made goods.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called Hemkund Saheb a spiritual, religious, and cultural beacon for Uttarakhand. He said that despite the tough terrain and unpredictable weather, lakhs of pilgrims show unwavering faith each year. So far, over 60,000 devotees have registered for the Hemkund Saheb Yatra, while more than 30 lakh have signed up for the Char Dham Yatra.

Highlighting the government’s development efforts, CM Dhami mentioned the construction of a valley bridge at Govindghat, along with improved infrastructure including railings, signage, medical facilities, drinking water, and hot water arrangements along the route. He stated that with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the pilgrimage experience is being modernized and shortened to benefit devotees.

A significant technological addition this year was the presentation of an AI-powered chatbot “Eternal Guru”, developed by Uttarakhand Technical University in collaboration with the Hemkund Sahib Management Trust. The chatbot, based on Gurbani, offers spiritual guidance derived from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, making sacred teachings accessible to a global audience.

Prominent dignitaries present included Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan, Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, MLAs Premchand Agarwal and Renu Bisht, along with spiritual leaders Swami Chidananda Saraswati and Srimant Gyan Dev Maharaj.

The event marked the beginning of a yatra season grounded in faith, technology, and state support.