I am not a regular traveller, but on ocassion, I do travel with lots of enthusiasm to explore the whole new world. I wanted to explore the popular places and in persuit, yesterday night I venture out to one of the sacred places of Sikhism, which is known as Harminder Sahib.
I never been to any Gurudwara before but after making it to this place I felt very relieved and relaxed. It is one of biggest Gurudwara with ample space to walk and roam. And at night the glowing moon just right on top of the Gurudwara was icing on the cake. It was not a planned outing and we were stopped right at the entrance as it was already. We reached there at 9.30PM, and upin reaching we discovered it was late to get entry, however after few request, the sevadar (gatekeeper), allows us to go inside. There were not much people around and we take most of the oppurtunity to walk free.
I learned that, visiting the Gurudwara requires you to wear proper cloths. No half pants or shorts are allowed inside. My nephew was not allowed inside because of this reason. On entering the visitors have to wash their hand, cover the head, (cloth available at the gate) like in my case I covered with yellow peice of clothe. There were flowing water right below the staircase, which allow to wash the foot.
Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib, also known as Patna Sahib or Harmandir Sahib, is a Gurdwara in Patna, Bihar, India that is important for several reasons:
Birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh : The Gurdwara was built in the 1950s to commemorate the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Sikh Guru, who was born in Patna on December 22, 1666. Guru Gobind Singh spent his early years in Patna before moving to Anandpur Sahib.
One of the five Takhats : Patna Sahib is one of the five Takhats, or Sikh seats of authority, and is considered the second holiest Takhat.
Consecrated by three Sikh Gurus
The shrine has been consecrated by three Sikh Gurus and is a symbol of fearlessness and valor.
Spiritual significance :
The Gurdwara is a sacred shrine with a rich history and spiritual significance. It's home to several relics of Guru Gobind Singh and invites visitors to explore his teachings and legacies. The Gurdwara's architecture is a blend of Mughal and Rajput styles, reflecting the region's cultural heritage.
Pilgrimage site :
Patna Sahib is a revered Sikh pilgrimage site that inspires piety in pilgrims and is a must-visit destination for Sikh devotees and history enthusiasts.
Guru Gobind Singh is credited with the Dasam Granth whose hymns are a sacred part of Sikh prayers and Khalsa rituals. Among his notable contributions to Sikhism are founding the Sikh warrior community called Khalsa in 1699 and introducing the Five Ks, the five articles of faith that Khalsa Sikhs wear at all times. - Wikipedia
We were not allowed to go inside the main sanctum, still walking around the vast space was tiring. There were many block of building with some modern classical architecture. The entire compound has a touch of white marble and white paint, which made it like heaven at night. I took many pictures around at night while taking the blessings of the 10th Sikh Guru.
There was a vast area dedicated for rhe community meals too which is famous in every Gurudwara, popularly known as "langar" where any can get a free meals during anytime of the day. Yhat place was very buzzing even so late at night. We did not get inside. It was a welcome visit to place and I enjoyed every bits of the place. I took a quick snap Inside of the main sanctum, where the worships happen. It aas complwtelly decorated in Gold.
The best place to visit the place is around the birthday time of the Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The entire area was lit up with magnificent lighting, makingbit glow entirely. I had seen many videos of it. But making it to the personally has a different experince. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Located inside a co tested road, it does not appears to be so big, but once inside you will enjoy the time. Seeking g blessing and dicovering the beautiful architecture.
I must say, one should visit these places to find peace and tranquility and explore the besutiful path of a different religion. They belive in equality and brotherhood.
