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Thousands of devotees pay obeisance at Golden Temple on Parkash Diwas
The 412th anniversary of first parkash utsav of Guru Granth Sahib was observed with great enthusiasm at the Golden Temple here on Friday. Thousands of devotees thronged the shrine on the occasion.
The 412th anniversary of first parkash utsav of Guru Granth Sahib was observed with great enthusiasm at the Golden Temple here on Friday. Thousands of devotees thronged the shrine on the occasion.
The shrine witnessed the festivity where the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) took forward the centuries-old tradition started by Sri Guru Arjan Dev in 1604 where Sri Guru Granth Sahib is ceremoniously carried by the head granthi on his head from Gurdwara Ramsar up to Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). A one-hour religious procession was taken out where head granthi Giani Jagtar Singh, accompanied by other Singh sahibans, carried Sri Guru Granth Sahib from Gurdwara Ramsar to the Golden Temple.
The procession was led by five beloved Singhs (Panj Pyare). Langars were organised at various places. Gatka and a huge nagar kirtan added to colour to the festivities.
After reaching the Golden Temple, Sri Guru Granth Sahib was taken to the Akal Takht in a well decorated Palki Sahib. Then the ‘Jalao’, which is a show of splendour was displayed at the Akal Takht, sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple and Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai.
ORIGIN OF PARKASH DIWAS
The first edition of the holy book of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, was installed at the Golden Temple in 1604 with Baba Buddhaji as the first granthi (caretaker of the book) carrying it ceremoniously on his head from Gurdwara Ramsar to the Golden Temple.
Additional secretary of the SGPC, Diljit Singh Bedi told Hindustan Times, “Guru Arjan Devji (fifth guru of Sikhs) pitched a tent by the side of the Ramsar tank and started the task of compiling the first edition of the holy granth. Guruji took help of Bhai Gurdas, who was entrusted as the Guru’s scribe for the holy text. Then, after its completion, the holy book was installed on a high pedestal within the Harmandir Sahib in August 1604.
Then Baba Buddhaji, who was appointed as first granthi (custodian) of the book, took the granth on his head from Ramsar gurdwara up to the Golden Temple. Till date, the same tradition is followed,” said Bedi.
Diljit Singh Bedi said the SGPC has been following the tradition since its inception in 1920 and Parkash Divas is celebrated with great fervour.
The evening session witnesses ‘gurmat samagam, where kirtan (gurbani hyms) are sung at the sanctum sanctorum amid ceremonial lighting along with fireworks, which are telecast live, said Bedi.
