Mussoorie, May 26 -- The portals of the Hemkund Sahib shrine, a revered centre of faith and pilgrimage for the Sikh community in Chamoli district, were opened amid traditional rituals on Sunday, officially marking the start of the annual Hemkund Sahib yatra, said officials. The first group of Sikh devotees, led by the "Panj Pyaras", (the five beloved ones) set off for Hemkund Sahib amid tight security after an overnight halt at the Ghangaria Gurudwara . NS Bindra, president of Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara Trust said, "The devotees (jatha) proceeded towards Hemkund Sahib with fervent chants of 'Jo Boley Sonihal, Sat Sri Akaal', and at an auspicious moment, the portals of Shri Hemkund Sahib were opened for the devotees and along with this, the portals of Lokpal Temple (Laxman Temple), a symbol of Hindu faith, were also opened for devotees with proper rituals." Chamoli district police have implemented robust arrangements to ensure the safety and smooth journey of pilgrims. Special teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed at key halts along the Hemkund Sahib yatra route. Bindra commended the district administration and police for their support in managing the pilgrimage arrangements. Last year over 262,000 pilgrims visited Hemkund Sahib. In 2023, over 240,000 pilgrims visited the shrine. In 2022, 247,000 pilgrims visited the Hemkund shrine....