Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi

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Delhi has a number of popular worship destinations. Temple, Mosque, Church, and Gurdwara, Delhi has all in abundance. With a considerable Sikh population in Delhi there are a couple of big Gurdwaras in Delhi. Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is one such holy destination for Sikhs in Delhi.

While Gurdwara Bangla Sahib belongs to the Sikh community, its enormity and beauty is worth seeing by all visiting to Delhi. Tourists visit the Gurdwara because it is historical and religious. Thus the place is always packed with devotees and tourists.

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is situated near Connaught Place in Delhi. The location is very central and is easily accessible. The Gurdwara is dedicated to the Eighth Sikh Guru, Sri Harkishen Sahib. The birth and the death anniversary of Sri Harkishen Singh Sahib are celebrated with lot of grandeur in the Gurdwara.

The design of Bangla Sahib looks typically like any other Gurdwara. The facade is done in white marble and has a dome in the centre. To make it look distinct the dome is plated with gold. There is a pond called "sarovar" where the devotees take the holy dip before entering the shrine.

The main central hall looks huge with high ceiling. It is adorned with the shrine of Guru Harkishen Sahib, covered with silk sheets. This is the place where the devotees seek Guru's blessings. The place is resonating with Sikh devotional music.

The eastern part of the Gurdwara is flanked by a community kitchen and dining area where "langar", is served to one and all. One can see the camaraderie and hospitality of the Sikh community and the way they come together for the purpose of carrying out the "langar" services. The langar food is a must have at the Gurdwara.

The complex also includes a book shop, library, museum, and hospital. All devotees are requested to cover their heads after entering the shrine and behave in a calm and respectful manner.

History Of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib

The story of the Gurdwara is as old as 1664 AD. It is said that Sri Harkishen Sahib was invited by Aurangzeb at the behest of his brother Ram Rai. After coming to Delhi, Sri Harkishan Sahib stayed in the palace of Mirza Raja Jai Singh and was royally treated by him. It is said the Guru's mother and a few disciples also accompanied him during his stay in Delhi.

Guru Harkishen Sahib had the divine power of curing people of their ailments. At that time endemic diseases like Cholera and Small Pox occurred again and again and Guru became very popular for curing people, particularly children, and saving many lives. Guru Harkishen treated the ailing people with the help of sanctified water. It is said that he sanctified the water with the help of his spiritual power. However, the Guru died at a very young age. It is believed that his death was premature because he took the ailment of suffering people on himself.

After the death of Guru Harkishen Singh, Raja Jai Singh dedicated the palace to the memory of Guru Ji. The mansion was converted into a Gurdwara and was called Gurdwara Bangla Sahib.

Since then, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is an important place of worship for devotees and taking a dip in the pond inside the Gurdwara is still considered holy. The Gurdwara is the perfect place to experience Sikh's hospitality and devotion.