Followers from UK, Thailand pay tributes to Chand Kaur

Mata Chand Kaur’s funeral pyre was being lit when many of her followers reached the cremation ground at Bhaini Sahib Gurdwara Complex to pay tributes to the departed soul on Tuesday. Tejinder Kaur — who had been a physiotherapist to Chand — reached the venue at 2.45 pm and rushed to the pyre with tears in her eyes. Others were aware that she had come from London, so they made way. She served as Chand Kaur’s physiotherapist over the years and always cherished listening to her sermons as she treated her.

Mata Chand Kaur’s funeral pyre was being lit when many of her followers reached the cremation ground at Bhaini Sahib Gurdwara Complex to pay tributes to the departed soul on Tuesday. Tejinder Kaur — who had been a physiotherapist to Chand — reached the venue at 2.45 pm and rushed to the pyre with tears in her eyes. Others were aware that she had come from London, so they made way. She served as Chand Kaur’s physiotherapist over the years and always cherished listening to her sermons as she treated her.

Followers paying last respects to Chand Kaur at the Namdhari sect headquarters, Bhaini Sahib, in Ludhiana on Tuesday. (Sikander Singh Chopra/HT)

Within hours of hearing about Mata Chand Kaur’s demise, Tejinder took the first flight from the UK and landed in Delhi this morning from where she reached Chandigarh by flight and then came to Bhaini Sahib by road to pay her last tributes.

Devotees were seen jostling with as the body was brought to the gurdwara for cremation. The police were seen struggling to manage the crowd.

She was not the only one to reach there to pay last respects to the mortal remains of Chand Kaur.

Atul Mittal, a resident of Tanzania, also made it to the cremation. “It is unfortunate that an 88-year-old woman has been murdered. The news was shocking to us as we are her ardent followers for the past many decades. We rushed to get our tickets as soon as we heard the news,” said Mittal.

“We have come from Sirsa to attend the cremation. Last time, we came here for Hola Mohalla celebrations two weeks ago. I met Mata Chand Kaur and she seemed happy at that time. Who had thought that we would have to attend her cremation in just two weeks,” said Surinder Kaur.

Chand Kaur, wife of former head of the Namdhari sect late Satguru Jagjit Singh, was on Monday shot dead by two unidentified bike-borne assailants at the Bhaini Sahib Gurdwara complex, 30 km from Ludhiana.