A large number of devotees pay obeisance at Golden Temple during New Year... by Gurmeet Kaur
Amritsar: Sri Harimandir Sahib also known as Golden Temple is not only a living symbol it has deep spiritual, historical, cultural, traditional, and heritage value. Despite my numerous visits to Golden Temple, I never had such a phenomenal experience as this new year 2024.
My training teacher Director Parveen Puri who works as a Public Relations Officer in the GNDU suggested that I pay obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar for this New Year's Eve.
Sri Harimandir Sahib, the sacred holy shrine of Punjab, witnessed lakhs of footfall every day.
To the Sikhs, there is no place holier than the Sri Harimandir Sahib, Sikh sangat from different parts of the world came and sought blessings of Guru for the start of the new year.
In Golden Temple, the Langar or the community kitchen remains open for 24 hours where food is served by sewadars, and hygiene is maintained in the hall.
There is a tradition of closing the entrance door by 10 pm where Sri Guru Granth Sahib is placed in the palki sahib and taken to Akal Thakt (opposite to Sri Harimandir sahib) for sukh asan or rest. Before 3 am the doors were opened and let the devotees go inside.
By 5 am in the morning, palki sahib is taken from Akal Takht to Sri Sachkhand sahib where devotees get a chance to seek the blessings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Devotees got immersed in spiritual love while listening to Gurbani hymns.
People from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds bow before Sri Guru Granth Sahib with full devotion. The scripture of the Sikhs called 'Sri Guru Granth sahib' is enshrined in 1430 pages.
It is also referred to as Adi Granth, which means first book. It is compiled in Gurmukhi script, and set in thirty-one ragas. The holy sikh book was edited by the Fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev ji in 1604 A.D.
The eye-catching beauty of the Golden Temple is beyond words. It seems to be more aesthetic and classic during the night. The beginning of the new year 2024 with the loud chanting of Waheguru took me to another world of mental peace and strength.
Undoubtedly, the maintenance and security arrangements were well made by SGPC to safeguard the sacred place. Golden Temple is the only place where prayer or Ardaas is done for the whole universe (sarbat da bhalla).
Meanwhile, after the Ardaas the whole sangat sits silently for the Hukamnama and then Prasad is distributed. This made New Year's Eve filled with spiritual love and blessings that last forever.
January 4, 2024
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Gurmeet Kaur, Student of Journalism and Mass Communication, GNDU
Cheenakundal29@gmail.com
Phone No. : 8591236962
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