Karnataka - Bidar

Sikh pilgrims growing in number at Sri Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib

Catering for visitors: Pilgrims being served food at the gurudwara

BIDAR: The number of Sikh pilgrims arriving at the Sri Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib has increased. Speaking to The Hindu here, manager of the Sri Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib Foundation, Bidar Darbara Singh, said the influx of pilgrims to the gurudwara and jhira, the site of a natural spring, had increased on Wednesday.

Mr. Darbara Singh expected that visitors would increase further in the next three days as the Sri Akhand Path Saheb of Sri Guru Granth Sahebji Maharaj would be held on October 30th at a huge pandal erected near Gurudwara Bhai Saheb Singhji, close to Nanak Gurudwara.

Mr. Singh said, on October 31, at 8 a.m., Seri Guru Granth Sahebji Maharaj would be taken in a procession from the gurudwara premises. At 10 a.m., the Sri Akhand Path Saheb would be begin at the pandal near Gurudwara Bhai Saheb Singhji. On November 1, the kirtan darbar and the dhadi jatha programme would be held. The next day, Samapati Sri Akhand Path Saheb and Sarva dharama sammelana would be held.

He added that Sikh pilgrims would arrive in large numbers to the gurudwara for these events scheduled for the next three days.

Officials of the Guru-ta-Gaddi Cell, Bidar, said Sikh pilgrims visiting the gurudwara had increased by Wednesday. Arrangements were in place for the pilgrims, such as shelter, drinking water, electricity, transportation, parking and security.

Six water tanks with a capacity of 10,000 litres each have been installed at the “shelter zone”, for pilgrims. Mass taps have been provided for drinking water. Electricity has been provided to tents and mats have been issued to all the tents where pilgrims are staying during their visit to the gurudwara, the officials said.

Officials of North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC), Bidar division, said permits had been sought for operating about 100 buses on the Nanded-Bidar route for hassle-free movement of Sikh pilgrims.

Meanwhile, buses are plying between Bidar City Terminus to the gurudwara premises and between City Railway Station to the gurudwara.

Buses have been plying from Nanak Gurudwara to Bhagoji Mata Gurudwara in Janawada village, they said.

Sikh pilgrims coming by their vehicles to Bidar have to park their vehicles on Aurad road near Chickpet. The pilgrims have to trek or accept the arrangements made by the officials of Nanak Gurudwara to have darshan of the gurudwara and jhira, police said.

A Punjabi pilgrim Gurminder Singh expressed his “happiness” over the arrangements made for the visitors in Bidar city, after visiting the gurudwara. He said he had come to the city from Nanded, Maharashtra.

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