Summer Palace illuminated on Guru Nanak Jayanti

Amidst continuous flow of divine Gurbani, devotees from across the country and around the world, made a beeline to pay obeisance at the holiest Sikh shrine, Golden Temple, since the wee hours to mark the 556th Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Dev on Wednesday.

The devotees also took a dip in the Amrit Sarovar. The Parkash Purb is being celebrated with great religious devotion and fervour in the holy city.

On the occasion, a "jalau" (show of splendour), displaying rare and precious articles and artifacts was held at the sanctum sanctorum, Akal Takht, and Gurdwara Baba Attal Rai, all situated inside the Golden Temple complex.

Harmandar Sahib and other shrines were tastefully decorated and illuminated with lights. Religious societies, faithfuls and various organisations held langars and distributed food among the devotees.

On the directions of Akal Takht acting Jathedar Kuldip Singh Gargaj, members of the Amritsar Vikas Manch and SGPC officials illuminated the Summer Palace of the legendary Sikh king Maharaja Ranjit Singh on Parkash Purb.

For the illumination of Summer Palace, situated within the Ram Bagh Gardens, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee made arrangements for the lights with the prior approval of Archeological Survey of India's Chandigarh office. Patrons of the AVM, Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi, Manmohan Singh Brar, Hardip Singh Chahal, president Surinderjit Singh, senior vice-president Rajwinder Singh Gill, Jaspal Singh, Simardeep Singh Chahal, Vikramjit Singh and Jasbir Singh, both from the SGPC, participated in the event.

Principal Ankhi described the historical contribution of the iconic Sarkar-e-Khalsa Maharaj Ranjit Singh to the holy city. The economy of the city flourished to such an extent that one rupee of that time equalled 13 British pounds. He gold-plated the pious building of Harmandar Sahib and on the pattern of Lahore's Shalimar Bagh, established the Ram Bagh Gardens in Amritsar and named it after the founder of the city, Guru Ramdas. He also bricked the katcha Bhangian Daa Quila and named it Quila Gobindgarh after the 10th Guru Gobind Singh.