GOLDEN TEMPLE AMRITSAR: A PHOTOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE

“Sacred places are physical and geographic anchor points for our psychic and cultural imaginings, the stories we tell about ourselves, the world, and the relations between them.”
Adrian J. Ivakhiv


'Sri Harmandir Sahib (The abode of God) (Punjabi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ), also Sri Darbar Sahib (PUNJABI: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ,  and informally referred to as the "Golden Temple" is the holiest Gurudwara of Sikhs, located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. Amritsar (literally, the tank of nectar of immortality) was founded in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Guru Ram Das. The fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan, designed the Harmandir Sahib to be built in the centre of this holy tank, and upon its construction, installed the Adi Granth, the holy scripture of Sikhism, inside the Harmandir Sahib. The Harmandir Sahib complex is also home to the Akal Takhat (the throne of the timeless one, constituted by the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind). While the Harmandir Sahib is regarded as the abode of God's spiritual attributes, the 
Akal Takht is the seat of God's temporal authority

'The construction of Harmandir Sahib was intended to be a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to come and worship God equally.' Wikipedia.


'GOLDEN TEMPLE' complex has recently been renovated  with state-of-the -art infrastructure. 500m stretch around the temple has been widened. An elegant corridor around the Gurdwara has been put up. Flooring has been laid with beautiful tiles and the facade of close-by establishments have been done with terracotta stone color in tune with the new embellished look.

Visiting 'GOLDEN TEMPLE' on 17th Feb., 2017 was an exhilarating experience. Very different and unique. The grandeur is humbling. You become  part of the sea of humanity, lose yourself and blend with the aura of religiosity for a short period. Intoxicated by the religious fervor, the visitors seemed to be in a state of spiritual abandonment. It was like a melting point of rich-poor, high-low of multiple faiths, from all over the world. Nobody seemed to care who the other was. Everybody appeared to be suffused with an overwhelming feeling of inner devotional passion even amidst the noisy throngs of visitors. Young married couples ( girls wearing their traditional Churas- red ivory bangles) in a joyful togetherness added to the universality of reverence for the holy shrine.

The sanctum sanctorum and the rows of devotees waiting for their turn to pay  obeisance.

Throngs of people doing parikarma ( going around) of the holy sarover (tank).

 Another view of the Darbar Sahib from the right side.

Darshani Deorhi ( entrance to the Sanctum Sanctorum)

The sacred AKAL TAKHAT- the symbol of temporal authority.

In the middle of this structure is one of the gates to the complex, adorned with magnificent domes

                                  Hubby and me  in the holy precincts.                      


The authorities have established a corridor around the complex to make  the surroundings look more graceful and representative of Punjabi culture and heritage.


 

Above young girls enjoying KIKLI.   'It is more of a sport than a dance for young girls. Two girls stand face to face, close to each other and hold their hands, crossing arms, their bodies inclined back. In this positio,n their arms are stretched to the maximum and hands interlock firmly. Then they wheel round fast and continuously, with their dupattas floating in the air and anklets making tinkling sounds. The other ladies encourage them to go faster and faster by singing songs and clapping. Sometimes it is done by four girls. The folk songs related to the dance have much variety.' Behind them, two girls are doing GIDHA Punjabi folk dance of women.

Friends, I also used to participate in this sport with my bubbling young friends in the long past old days.

FIGURINES carved out of black marble showing young men dancing to BHANGRA tunes. Note the mirthful couple clicking the selfie.

The drummer to whose beats BHANGRA is performed.

High on the pedestal is the statue of great MAHARAJA Ranjit Singh, the last Sikh ruler of Punjab before it was annexed by the British.

Friends welcome here as always!
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