The Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Hello readers, I missed being out of touch for such a long time, the reason being my examinations that just finished. However, we will ensure to share more interesting and informative blogs regularly from now on.

So, today we will talk about one of the most prominent shrines for the Sikhs, located in Delhi, India, “The Gurudwara Bangla Sahib”. When you enter the gurudwara, you are welcomed with the chants of prayers and also witness a dining hall full of people, from all walks of life, enjoying the delicious prasad called the langar. There are number of volunteers offering their services in the langar from cooking food to serving the other devotees.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the most important religious places in Delhi, built to commemorate Guru Har Krishnan, the eighth Sikh guru in 1664. This magnificent shrine was built by Sikh General Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783 and this shrine is visited by over more than 1000 people a day.

The gurudwara consists of a main prayer hall, a holy Sarovar or lake, and a langar hall. It also has a higher secondary school, a hospital, Baba Bhagel Singh Museum, and a library within its premises. People who visit this shrine get ‘Kada Prasad’ and free langar (community meals) served at the regular meal times. However, there are some rules to follow before entering the gurudwara. Everyone should wear decent clothing, need to cover their heads with a scarf or cloth, shoes must be left outside at a designated place, and hands & feet must be washed. The gurudwara also has a ‘Yatri Niwas’ or house for tourists. The sacred chants that go almost for 24 hours connect you directly to the divine power.

Now, let us dive into some key historical events that are associated with this temple. The current gurudwara was once the bungalow that belonged to Raja Jai Singh in the 17th century and was famously known as Jaisinghpura Palace. When the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishnan visited Delhi in the year 1664, he stayed over at the palace. Due to some unforeseen events, there was an outbreak of cholera and smallpox in the region which had got several victims. Using his learnings from the teachings of Sikhism, Guru Har Krishnan dedicated his services and helped cure the people by giving them fresh water from the well, that had healing powers. However, he became the victim which resulted in his death on March 30, 1664. Raja Jai Singh constructed a small tank over the waters of the well, and it is now believed to heal all kinds of diseases and health problems. It is taken away in bottles as souvenirs by devotees coming to Bangla Sahib from all over the world.

One more of the most important parts of the gurudwara, the Langar, is based on the concept that no person shall go to bed empty stomach. The gurudwara has a huge Langar hall where people are served with food regardless of their race, caste, religion, age or gender. People can also volunteer to serve the visiting devotees and in this way, help the langar management and gain blessings from God for their good deeds.

As the saying goes “Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.”, so let us know more about this important aspect of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. The gurudwara’s exterior is designed with delicate white marble, with its central dome covered with gold leaves, the walls are decorated with intricate carvings and designs and there is a flagpole that is known as the Nishan Sahib.

There have also been many records named to this gurudwara. They are:

1. Matchless contribution to philanthropic services

2. Delhi's largest kitchen

“The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals.” Number of festivals are celebrated at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and some of them are:

1. Baisakhi: This festival is celebrated to welcome the harvest season on April 15th in India and a large number of people visit annually to enjoy this festival.

2. Guru Purab: The birth of Guru Nanak Dev and the birth anniversary of Guru Har Krishnan are celebrated on April 15th every year.

3. Prakash Utsav: This festival is celebrated for the birth of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh on December 22nd.

So, this is a quick tour of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, and I would like to conclude this blog with a beautiful quote written by Muhammed Ali. “Rivers, ponds, lakes, and streams – they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do – they all contain truths.”

Credits

Holidify.com – information and research source