Amritsar, 1 January 2025: Despite frigid temperatures and dense fog, the Golden Temple in Amritsar saw a surge of devotees from across the globe and India, all eager to mark the beginning of the New Year with prayers. Among those visiting the sacred site was Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Member of Parliament from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
The peak of the pilgrimage occurred during the night, with many visitors choosing to start the year by offering prayers at the revered gurdwara. “It’s a tradition to begin the year here,” said Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who has visited the shrine every year at this time.
While the former deputy chief minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, traditionally makes his pilgrimage at dawn on January 1, this year he planned to visit on Wednesday morning instead.
A unique sight was that of a Russian family, who had made the Golden Temple their destination for the New Year celebrations. Yan, the father, shared that his family had been visiting the gurdwara annually. “We’ve made it a tradition to start the year here, finding peace and blessings for the year ahead,” he said. The family was staying in the NRI Sarai, managed by the SGPC.
Arijit, a visitor from Delhi, was also drawn to the Golden Temple to begin his year. “The peace I feel here and the devotion it inspires are reasons I return every year,” he explained, recalling the memories of his past visits.
Similarly, Savitri Singh from Malaysia and Bengaluru-based businesswoman Loveleen Multani, both visiting with their families, echoed similar sentiments. “There’s no better place to seek blessings for the year than the Golden Temple,” said Multani, who has made the temple a part of her family’s New Year tradition.
For many, the Golden Temple remains not just a spiritual center but a place of reflection and renewal, offering a sense of calm and devotion to start the year.
