Gurudwara-Nanak-shahi-Dhaka.
Gurudwara Nanakshahi Dhaka, BD.
Gurudwara Nanakshahi of Dhaka is located next to the Kalabhavan of Dhaka University campus. Gurudwaras are places of worship for the Sikhs. This Gurudwara Nanakshahi is very important not only in religious terms but also historically. It is the most important among the seven Gurudwaras in Bangladesh. This building is witness to many historical events of the region including the Liberation War.
Every week Sikh followers from Dhaka and outside Dhaka gather here and offer prayers. The largest gathering of Sikhs in the country is held here.
It is said that Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, stayed for a short time in the 16th century at the place where this Gurudwara in Dhaka is located. During his stay at this place he preached the monotheism and brotherhood of Sikhism and taught religious rituals.
During the period of Hargobind Singh, the 6th Guru of Sikhism (1595-1644 AD), a Sikh preacher named Vainath (Almast) came to this place and started the construction of the Gurudwara. According to some, the construction of the Gurudwara began during the period of the 9th Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur Singh (1621-1675 AD). Its construction was completed in 1830 AD. Later, due to lack of maintenance, it fell into disrepair.
Some renovation of the building of the Gurudwara was done in 1972, immediately after the independence of Bangladesh. It was extensively renovated in 1988–89, and an outdoor terrace and adjoining buildings were added. The renovation work was financed by donations from Sikhs living in Bangladesh and abroad. Sardar Harbansh Singh, Chief Inspector of International Jute Corporation of Dhaka, supervised the construction work. In 2011, a two-storey building with Sikh Research Center, office rooms and guest rooms for foreign visitors was constructed on the west side of the main building of the Gurudwara. It was inaugurated by Guru Sharan Kaur, wife of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Also Visit:
Gurdwara Nanak Shahi once had a huge amount of land. Gurudwara Nanakshahi was huge in size even though it was not a big and magnificent place of worship like today. There was an entrance on its north side. To the south were wells and tombs, and to the west was an embanked pond. Apart from the main shrine, there were a few rooms for the devotees to stay. But they are no longer left. The present shrine is built on a limited space and has acquired its present form through repeated renovations.
Gurudwaras in Nanakshahi each served as a granthi (priest) at a time. From 1915 to 1947, a Sikh saint named Srichandra Jyoti was the priest of this temple. From 1947 until the sixties, the temple was abandoned. After the independence of Bangladesh, it was reformed and given its present form. At present, Bhai Piara Singh is serving as the chief minister.
Granthsahib reading and prayers are held twice daily in the morning and evening at Guru Nanakshahi. Apart from that, weekly gatherings and prayers are held every Friday from 12 noon to 2 pm. The priest recites the scriptures and chants. This kirtan of the Gurudwara makes the devotees yearn. Musician Kiranchandra Roy performed kirtan here for a long time from the guest house of this gurudwara. Prasad is distributed after kirtan and prayer. Lunch is also available for guests arriving on Fridays. Annual events organized at the Gurudwara include Guru Nanak's birth anniversary and Paila Baisakh. These two episodes are celebrated here with great fanfare.
Also visit:
No one is barred from entering the Gurudwara, men and women of all ages irrespective of caste and religion can enter, participate in prayers and receive Prasad. People of Sikh community living in Dhaka visit this Gurudwara regularly. Apart from this, people from other communities are also seen visiting this place of worship on Fridays. The expenses of the institution are met with the help of local devotees and foreign donors.
The present entrance to the high walled Gurudwara Nanakshahi is on the south side. There is a beautiful green lawn in front of the temple. On its left is the Sikh Research Centre, on the right is the two-storied Durbar Hall. Featuring a front flag-hanging stand, this shrine is built in the unique Sikh style of architecture. An earth-shaped structure is built over the temple. Sikh religious symbol Khanda is adorned around it. At the top of the shrine is the chhatara. It is the symbol of the Sikh shrine. Gurudwara Nanakshahi has a large room right in the middle. There are four doors around this room. On the wooden altar in the center is the Sikh scripture Granth Sahib. It is called Sri Darbar Sahib. In front of the altar is a pair of khams used by the ninth Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur Singh carefully kept in a glass case. There are red carpets on the floor of this room. Devotees sit and listen to Granthsahib. There are balconies around the room.
How to go:
With many buses plying to Shahbagh and Dhaka University, you can come from different parts of Dhaka city to visit this Sikh prayer place. You can take a bus from Syedabad Bus Stand, Mohakhali Bus Stand or Farmgate Bus Stand to visit this unique resort in Bangladesh.
What to do:
Although very few followers of Sikhism live in Bangladesh, this one-domed structure is an important place of worship for Sikhs. If you are interested in learning about the architecture of Gurudwara Nanakshahi and the Sikh religion, you can visit the Sikh Research Center located just to the left of the main building of the Gurudwara.
Comments
Post a Comment