BANGLA SAHIB GURUDWARA

Tourist places of Delhi

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

History-: Bangla Sahib, located in New Delhi, is one of the most prominent Sikh Gurdwara. It was originally a bungalow of Raja Jai Singh, an Indian ruler. Sri Guru Hari Krishan Sahib, a young boy, was the 8th prophet of the Sikhs who guided the community with immense wisdom and diplomacy. He was the second son of Guru Hari Ram Rai, the 7th Sikh guru, who disowned his elder son, Ram Rai, because he was more focused on pleasing the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb by demonstrating magical miracles. After the death of Guru Hari Ram Rai, Emperor Aurangzeb, with the advice of Ram Rai, summoned Guru HariKrishan Sahib to show occult miracles in Mughal court. However, Guruji vowed not to meet Emperor Aurangzeb to demonstrate such acts. On his visit to Delhi, Raja Jai Singh welcomed him as a royal guest in his haveli, the present Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.The Gurudwara came into existence in 1783 as a symbol of benignant of Guru HarKrishan Sahib Ji. It is said that during the tenure of Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber (Jaipur) in 1664, the eighth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Harkishan Sahib used to stay here as a guest and later offered treatment to the people suffering from smallpox and cholera. During the process of providing treatment, Guru Harkishan himself suffered from small pox that became the cause of his death. He took his last breath at the age of 7 years on March 30, 1664. After the death of Guru Har Kishan Sahib, Raja Jai Singh dedicated his haveli to the sacred memory of Guruji and his compassion for the sick and poor. Since then, it is being known as Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and has been an important place of worship for the Sikhs and all. The Gurudwara has a large golden dome and a symbolic flagpole, which can be seen from a far distance. The floors are made of marble. A kitchen and langar hall is also located within the gurudwara premises where the food is served to everyone. Apart from that a higher secondary school, a library and a hospital are also present in the gurudwara premises.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF BANGLA SAHIB GURUDWARA

Entrance-: At the entrance of the Gurudwara Delhi, there is a small pond in which devotees should  wash their feet. However there are many water taps from which one can wash face, hands and legs. If you forget your hanky or scarf then no issue there are lots of drum in which scarfs kept .Cover your head and go ahead.

 

SANCTOM SANCTORUM

MAIN TEMPLE

The sanctum sanctorum is the main temple building that houses the Guru Granth Sahib. Throughout the day one can hear the soothing Gurbani (devotional music) echoes in the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara. Raagis (classical singers) sing verses from the Holy Book throughout the day, adding to the overall spiritual experience. Despite the rush, there is no pushing around and there are sewadar (volunteers) and paid employees of the shrine that help you if you need any clarifications.

 

 

 

SAROVAR OR HOLY POND

The sarovar is the large pond that sits in the middle of the temple complex. It is surrounded by a paved walking path. Devotees take a complete round of this ‘parikrama’ every time they visit the temple. You will find many fresh water fish in the sarovar too. Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji out of love and compassion for suffering humanity dipped his holy feet in water and poured charan amrit into small caubacha (sarovar). All those who took water from caubacha were cured from the disease. Devotees with faith and devotion come from all over the world and get rid of suffering by taking a dip in the holy water. If you have time, sit and relax along the Sarovar, the beautiful pond within the Bangla Sahib premises.

 

A HUGE KITCHEN HALL

Here is a huge kitchen. I think you have ever seen such vast kitchen. The people who are preparing food  many of them are volunteers. They do service to devotees called Sewa. All sewadaar forget their caste, creed and religion and do work together.

DELICIOUS LANGAR

Like all Sikh temples, the Bangla Sahib too has a well managed kitchen and eating hall. The concept of community kitchen stems from the thought that no one should have to beg for food.  Bangla Sahib Gurudwara serves delicious langar lunch to around 10,000 visitors everyday. Langar  is generally served from 9:00 am onwards. The experience of savouring delicious langar food in the land of God, with devotional trance music in the background, is certainly a memory that one will cherish forever. The langar serves chapattis, daal, sabzi, and kheer at a sit-down meal held in regular intervals. The langar is open throughout the day. Devotees volunteering for the job serve food to everyone regardless of caste, creed and religion. Have a heart-filled lunch at the langar.

MUSEUM

Delhi's first religious multimedia museum - 'Baba Baghel Singh Sikh Heritage Multimedia Museum' – is becoming a popular attraction not only for the Sikh community but also for people from other religions. The museum, located inside Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, has been named after Baba Baghel Singh, a brave Sikh soldier, who played a significant role in defending Sikhism. He conquered the Red Fort in Delhi in 1783 and established seven historic Gurudwara in Delhi. The force behind the ideas was International President of World Punjabi

Organisation (WPO), Vikramjit Singh Sahney. Sahney conceptualised and started the museum in the memory of his father, late Gurucharan Singh Sahney. Through paintings, digital technology, screens, murals, projections and multi-language sound, the aim of the museum is to highlight the core principles of Sikhism.  At the entrance of the museum, there is a geographical map that shows Guru Nanak Dev's journey across the globe. The museum has four galleries with 250 paintings and one small auditorium which has the capacity to hold up to 170 people at a time. It screens five-minute films on Sikh gurus and soldiers. The journey in the museum begins with a painting of Baba Baghel Singh capturing the Red Fort. One gallery shows the teaching of Guru Nanak Dev, followed by paintings depicting the birth of Khalsa and Maharaja Ranjit Singh's life. There is also an installation depicting the religious symbol – 'Khanda'.

KARAH PRASAD

All visitors are offered Karah-Prasad (a sweet dish made from wheat, sugar and ghee) after they have paid their respects to the Holy Book. The Karah-Prasad is prepared in the Gurudwara kitchen itself. You can pay to buy this sweet and offer it to the Guru Granth Sahib if you wish to. All such offerings are collected and then distributed in small quantities to visitors.

HUB OF HANDICRAFTS

Baba Kharak Singh Road , the shrine is located on the cross section of this road. It is a hub of handicraft emporiums and there are 18 state government handicraft emporiums selling products made by local craftsmen. It is an ideal place for buying souvenirs for family and friends back home.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING

• Cover your head – Since entry for bare headed visitors is banned, carry a handkerchief if you are not already wearing a hat. Ladies must also cover their head with a scarf. If you do not have anything to cover your head, you will be offered a scarf at the temple gate free of cost, which you will need to return at the same place.
•   Shoes – No one is allowed to enter the main gate with shoes on. There is a large space where you can take off your shoes and hand over to volunteers who will keep them in the allotted space and hand you an identification number. Before entering the main premises, you need to wash your feet in running water. This should not be a problem as you simply step into 2-inch deep water (usually lukewarm in winters) and walk on.
• Safety – Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is usually fairly crowded. Although there will not be too much pushing, you need to be careful of pickpockets. Use the cloak room facility if you have too much baggage to carry.
•   Decorum – Sikhs are extremely particular about their rituals and do’s and don’ts. Do not take cigarettes or any type of tobacco products inside as they are strictly prohibited in Sikh religion. Do not litter or create a chaos within the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib premises. While sitting inside the temple, make sure that your feet do not point towards the Holy Book. After you come out of the sanctum sanctorum, you are likely to be offered Karah-Prasad. It is considered disrespectful not to accept it. Even if you do not intend on eating it, accept it with grace and hand it over to someone else once you are out of the temple.
• Address-: Ashoka Road, Connaught Place, Next to Grand Post Office, New Delhi, Delhi 110001.Phone: 011 2334 0174.
• Nearest Metro Station-: Rajiv Chowk Metro Station in Rajiv Chowk, Connaught Place, is situated 2.1 km (7 minutes) from the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Auto, taxi and private cabs are available to commute between metro station and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Basic auto fare is Rs 26, while basic taxi fare is Rs. 40.
• Distance from Kashmiri Gate Bus Stop-: 9.5 km via Minto Rd/Swami Vivekananda Marg,10.5 km via Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg.
•   Distance from Anand Vihar Bus Stop-: 10.5 km via Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Marg, 14.8 km via NH 24.
•   Opening timing-24 hours All days of the week.
•   Day closed- None.
•  Entry Fees-: Everything at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is free. Entry into the complex, food at Guru ka Langar and boarding options are completely free of cost.
• Parking- Ample parking facility is available.
• Cloak room or locker facility -Cloak room facility available.
• Photography allowed- Mobile phones, camera are allowed. One can click photographs also.

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