"Kar sevaks" throng Durgiana Mandir
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR: Durgiana Mandir is a beehive of activity these days. All roads leading to it are barricaded and decorated for thousands of devotees, who cutting across faiths, continue to throng the temple to perform "kar seva" for the desiltation of the holy tank.

As one approaches the temple complex, colourful buntings, arches and hoardings greet the devotees en route and hymns and religious sermons rent the air. An unending stream of devotees, mostly barefoot, smudged with mud, chant religious notes as they undertake the job.

The desilting operation has been undertaken after a gap of 24 years by the Durgiana Temple Managing Committee. The committee was urged to take up the arduous job by Mr Vijay Chopra, a media baron of Jalandhar. A kar seva samiti is overlooking the task.

For the convenience of volunteers who carry the mud to the dumping site at Hathi Ground, a community kitchen and first-aid posts were set up on February 14, coinciding with Mahashivaratri.

The holy tank (540 ft x 528 ft x 22 ft ) has been divided into eight "ghats", according to the samiti secretary, Mr Ramesh Talwar. These "ghats" have been named Raghunath Ghat, Langat Ghat, Katha Bhavan Ghat, Gau Ghat, Dhanwantari Ghat, Tulsi Ghat, Satya Narain Ghat and Shivala Ghat.

Besides Hindus, Sikhs and even members of the Namdhari sect are participating. The sect chief, Maharaj Jagjit Singh, also took part in the "kar seva". The main source of the temple's holy water is the same as that of the Golden Temple.

Amritsar is a city with several "sarovars". Besides the ones at the Golden Temple and the Durgiana Mandir, the others, though smaller and less frequented by devotees, are at Gurdwara Santokhsar, Bibeksar, Ramsar and Mata Kaulan Gurdwara.

Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, who heads the All-India Hindu Shiv Sena and is actively involved in the "kar seva", informs that the desilting operation is expected to be completed by March 6 next when fresh water will be released into the holy tank amid religious ceremonies.

The organisations and institutions involved in giving the Durgiana complex a new look propose to bring the holy water from as many as 135 places. A pitcher of holy water was received from Amritkund Sarovar at Katasraj in Pakistan on Thursday when a jatha returned after pilgrimage.

Besides the "kar seva", work on the beautification and expansion of the Durgiana Complex is on and so is the work on gold-plating of the main Lakshmi Narayan Temple. A causeway, 250 feet long and 18 feet wide, leads to the sanctum shrine. It looks like a replica of the Golden Temple.

There are several small temples nearby where idols of various gods and goddesses are installed. Each one, says Mr Talwar, symbolises "ideals" which have been passed from one generation to the other for centuries.

Several VIPs have visited the temple and rubbed shoulders with commoners. The Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, has announced a donation of Rs 75,000 for the temple. — PPS Gill