Amritsar: For the first time after Partition, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has installed Guru Granth Sahib at the historical Gurdwara Panjvin and Chhevin Patshahi, Nankana Sahib, Pakistan. It has also appointed hazuri ragi (nominated singer of hymns) of Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib Sant Singh Adil as ‘granthi’ (priest) of the shrine for performing daily religious services according to Sikh rehat maryada (Sikh code of religious conduct).
Talking to TOI over phone from Lahore on Monday, ETPB chairman Siddiq-ul-Farooq said they had taken Sant Singh as the ‘granthi’ for the gurdwara while one more ‘granthi’ and a ‘sewadar’ (helper) would be appointed in the near future. He said security arrangement have also been made at the gurdwara following the installation of Guru Granth Sahib.
The gurdwara is dedicated to fifth Sikh master Guru Arjan Dev and sixth master Guru Hargobind. ETPB has also preserved the part of the tree under which the sixth guru had stayed in a glass case.
“Now, we are left with only one Gurdwara Kiara Sahib in Nankana Sahib without ‘parkash’ (installation) of Guru Granth Sahib. I have promised the Sikhs to install their holy book in Gurdwara Kiara Sahib and open the shrine within six months as some construction and renovation work is required to be done,” said Farooq.
Gurdwara Kiara Sahib is situated at a place where a miracle had happened when the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev’s cattle destroyed a farmer’s crops while he was meditating.
There are seven historical gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib, including Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Bal Leela Sahib, Gurdwara Patti Sahib, Gurdwara Tamboo Sahib, Gurdwara Panjvin and Chhevin Patshahi, Gurdwara Mall Ji Sahib and Gurdwara Kiara Sahib. All the gurdwara’s in Nankana Sahib now have ‘parkash’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib except Gurdwara Kiara Sahib.
“We have fulfilled the demand of Sikh ‘sangat’ (community) by installing Guru Granth Sahib at Gurdwara Panjvin and Chhevin Pathshahi and opening it on April 16,” said the ETPB chairman.
