Mussoorie, March 17 -- The portals of Shri Hemkund Sahib, one of the most revered Sikh shrines located in Chamoli district, will open for the 2026 yatra season on May 23, the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara Management Trust announced on Monday. The decision was taken following meeting between the Trust and chief secretary Anand Bardhan. President of the Trust NS Bindra said the opening date was finalised after reviewing the prevailing weather conditions. "After evaluating the current weather conditions and noting a significant decrease in snowfall this year, both parties mutually agreed to commence the yatra slightly earlier than in previous years," Bindra said. The early opening comes after the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra, which is scheduled to begin in April. During the meeting, the chief secretary assured the Trust of the state government's full support to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage for the thousands of devotees expected to visit the Himalayan shrine. To facilitate the pilgrimage, the Management Trust has finalised arrangements for free boarding and lodging at its dharamshalas in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar, Ratura, Joshimath, Govindghat and Ghangaria. However, officials emphasised that pilgrims will not be allowed to stay overnight at the shrine due to its extreme altitude of over 15,000 feet and limited infrastructure. The langar (community kitchen) will remain operational to serve devotees visiting the shrine. Given the unpredictable weather conditions at high altitude and the physical demands of the trek, Bindra urged pilgrims to follow official safety guidelines, complete the required registrations and ensure they are physically prepared for the journey. Hemkund Sahib holds immense spiritual significance as the place where the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, is believed to have meditated in a previous life, as mentioned in the Bachittar Natak, he added....