Hazur Sahib Celebrations

[Azaad]

Bandi Chhor Diwas celebrated with fervour

Hazur Sahib, October 29

A spectacular show on Diwali, which was celebrated as Bandi Chhor Diwas here, was witnessed by more than one lakh pilgrims yesterday.

Devotees lit earthen lamps at the main shrine building.

The Takht building, built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1837, has been spruced up.

The devotees, holding candles and diyas in their hands, started reaching the Parikrama of Takht Hazur Sahib after sunset. They illuminated every nook and corner of the shrine. Clad in blue robes, the gatka parties presented spectacular shows at the Parikrama.

Residents of Nanded illuminated their houses and painted rangolis in front of them. Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of Sikhs, had been released by emperor Jehangir from the Gwalior fort along with 52 kings on Diwali.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to pay obeisance at Takht Hazur Sahib tomorrow. President Pratibha Patil is likely to visit the city to mark the Parlok Gaman of Guru Gobind Singh on November 3.

The Takht Hazur Sahib Management Committee says nearly 30 lakh devotees are expected at the main function to be held till November 4.

Sidelights

l A baptised Sikh pilot from Hyderabad, Satinder Singh, threw rose petals from the aircraft on Takht Hazur Sahib when a nagar kirtan was being taken out from Takht Hazur Sahib. The pilot was barefoot.

l An American Sikh had a miraculous escape when he was attacked by followers of a Sikh sect, for raising objection over the slaughtering of a goat and then applying ‘tilak’ of its blood on weapons. The American Sikh was dragged by them into the Takht building. However, he was saved on the intervention of some saner elements with the help of the Maharashtra police.

l Anmol, a horse, said to be the offspring of the horse of Guru Gobind Singh, was bedecked with 50 kg gold and taken in the nagar kirtan. Five other horses also followed Anmol in the procession.

l Parkash Singh Badal, CM, and Sukhbir Singh Badal, president, SAD, and Surinder Kaur Badal paid obeisance at Takht Hazur Sahib. Talking to mediapersons, the SAD president said the Sikh devotees should take pledge to fight against female foeticide.

Hazur Sahib has unique maryada

Hazur Sahib, October 29

Maryada (Sikh code) does not allow the Jathedar of Takht Hazur Sahib to leave Nanded till death and he has to be a “brahmchari” throughout life.

As per two-century-old maryada, the Jathedar, Giani Kulwant Singh, can’t attend the meetings of Akal Takht though he nominates his second in command (vice-Jathedar) to attend the meetings of Sikh high priests at Akal Takht. Though the first ardas in the wee hours is performed at Takht Hazur Sahib for allowing the Sikh community to do a pilgrimage of all historical gurdwaras, including the Golden Temple, as per the maryada of Takht Hazur Sahib, Giani Kulwant Singh can’t pay obeisance there.

Talking to The Tribune, Dalip Singh, a class fellow of Giani Kulwant Singh, said he (Jathedar) had to remain at Nanded as his duty starts at 2 am with the performance of ardas before washing of the sanctum sanctorum with holy water of the Godavari is carried out. After a break of only a couple of hours, the Jathedar has to perform the daily rites in the sanctum sanctorum where even other Sikh high priests are not allowed to enter.

Finally, the Jathedar goes back to his official residence in the Takht complex after the evening prayers, which are performed in the most traditional manner.

Gagrya Sikh Hardyala Singh, who carries gaggar (a silver utensil) for carrying holy water from the Godavari to Takht Hazur Sahib, too has to be bachelor and can’t leave Nanded till death. A task force of the youth, carrying traditional weapons, escort him barefoot. The tradition of performing aarti besides ardas on the riverbanks after the first pitcher is drawn is a mesmerising experience. Being a separate committee, the maryada of Takht Hazur Sahib is quite different from that of Akal Takht and the SGPC.

Milk and water of the Godavari is sprayed on the gurdwara building from a fire tender on the eve of Diwali.

The naubat (a traditional musical instrument) is played by non-Sikhs in front of Takht Hazur Sahib every day.

The most significant variation among maryada of Takht Hazur Sahib and other three Takhts of Punjab is that the recitation of Guru Granth Sahib and the Dasam Granth go on simultaneously. Unlike at the gurdwaras and Takhts under the control of the SGPC, devotees offer “panjeer parsad”, which can be collected from the counters put up by the Takht management.

Sikh architecture dominates Nanded landscape

Nanded, October 29

Sikh architecture, which is characterised by values of progressiveness, exquisite intricacy, austere beauty and logical flowing lines, dominates most of the recently constructed buildings raised as part of the beautification plan of the Takht Hazur Sahib Management Committee to mark the tercentenary celebrations of Gurta Gaddi Diwas of Guru Granth Sahib.

It may be the state government’s hospital building, a panorama on Sikhism or the railway station, golden domes greet devotees thronging this holy city. Earlier, government buildings were given this touch at the White City of Anandpur Sahib to mark the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa Panth in 1999.

Nanded is the second largest district of Maharashtra after Aurangabad.

Although Sikh architecture had been developed within Sikhism, its style is used in many non-religious building as well. Three hundred years ago, the architecture was known by its many curves and straight lines.

Though there is no official word about the naming of Hazur Sahib’s airport, “Guru Gobind Singh Airport” has been written at its main entrance. The flights started by Indian Airlines from Amritsar to Nanded via Delhi have not been economically viable.

Castelo kalgi for Takht

Hazur Sahib, October 29

The US-based Sikh Dharma International and Guru Ram Das Sikh Mission presented a kalgi to Takht Hazur Sahib here today.

The kalgi has been handcrafted by famous Beverly Hills jeweller Angelo Castelo. One of his clients was late Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogi.

Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh had been famous for wearing a kalgi on his turban. He was affectionately called Guru Kalgidhar.

The piece created by Castelo replicates the shape of Guru’s kalgi, but with a distinctive modern flair. The piece is cast in gold, set with blue topaz and diamonds on silver base.

It is a tribute to the life of Guru Gobind Singh whose courage and radiance gave life to the Khalsa. It is a gift from the Sikhs from the West.

Bhai Satpal Singh, chairman of the Guru Ram Dass Sikh Mission, and Bibi Inderjit Kaur Khalsa, wife of late Harbhajan Singh Yogi, and many converted Sikhs from the US, New Mexico, Germany, Canada and the UK were present. Later, Bhai Satpal Singh was honoured in the sanctum sanctorum of the Takht.

Only 3 take special flight to Amritsar

Hazur Sahib, October 29

The first flight from the Rajasansi (Amritsar) International Airport via New Delhi brought only 44 passengers, including the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh, SGPC president Avtar Singh and Tarlochan Singh, a Rajya Sabha member from Haryana, at newly constructed Shri Guru Gobind Singh Airport ere today. The return flight carried only three passengers.

However, SGPC president said he would take up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to make it a daily flight. The latter is likely to visit the city tomorrow.

Though Indian Airlines has reduced the ticket charges to nearly half in view of the tercentenary celebrations of Gurta Gaddi Diwas of Guru Granth Sahib, a few passengers opted for the air route.

Tarlochan Singh, welcoming the reduced fare, urged the authorities to continue the flight.

He has urged Sikhs to use the Amritsar-Nanded flight in a big way.On the other hand, the Mumbai-Nanded flight has been doing good business.

The airlines authorities said the Amritsar-Nanded flight via Delhi would run till November 4 only.

[guptveer1469]

i've heard that the shastars start to shake violently and vibrate at times and thats when singhs do jatkha and put drops of blood on them and they calm down and stop, ive heard this a various amount of times.

[xHarinder_singh]

i've heard that the shastars start to shake violently and vibrate at times and thats when singhs do jatkha and put drops of blood on them and they calm down and stop, ive heard this a various amount of times.

Sri Sarbloh jee has divine power.

Shastars have divine power.

Dashmesh pita has written a long Shastar naam-maala which just shows how much importance Dashmesh Pita gave to shastars.

Now, whehter the shastars ask for the blood of a goat, I doubt.

They are certainly asking for the blood of the people who rape, attack gurbani, gurughar.

JAI TEGA(N).