Visitors decry poor hygiene, food quality at Gurdwara Manji Sahib

Gurdwara Manji Sahib at Bija village in Khanna is a historical and spiritual seat. The site is linked to the sixth guru of Sikhs, Guru Hargobind and the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Guru Hargobind is believed to have visited and rested here during his travels, while Guru Gobind Singh shot an arrow into the ground here causing a spring to emerge, named Tirsar or Arrow Lake.

In 1953, local farmers were tilling a piece of their land when they unearthed the original resting place of Guru Hargobind. A manji, a small bed, used to place the Guru Granth Sahib, too, was discovered from the site. This led to the establishment of the gurdwara with support from the local sangat.

The daily kirtan in the gurdwara uplifts the hearts of the sangat, arousing a deep sense of devotion and peace. The community kitchen reflects the Sikh principles of equality, devotion and selfless service. Gurpurb and Vaisakhi are celebrated here fervently, drawing pilgrims from across the region. A medical dispensary and Mata Ganga Khalsa College caters to healthcare and education of the locals.

But there is another side to this rosy picture. The services offered by the community kitchen are far from satisfactory. “The food served in the langar hall is of poor quality most of the times. There is also a lack of hygiene. What message does this send to believers who travel from far and wide to visit the shrine? Despite possessing a dairy farm, visitors are mostly served tea made of powdered milk. The cookies offered by the sangat as charhawa also seldom reach the langar hall,” shared a local visitor.

“Not just the langar hall, even the washrooms at the gurdwara stink. Lack of cleanliness and hygiene are the major issues being faced by the sangat. And this has been going on for years. The employees of the SGPC, due to lack of check on the part of the latter, have failed to perform their duties and are just concerned about their personal likes and dislikes,” shared another visitor.

“It is shocking and upsetting that the holy place, where two gurus marked their presence, cries for want of attention. The SGPC should get feedback from visitors and try to make amends at the earliest. Poor amenities and dissatisfactory langar service cannot be accepted at any cost,” shared still another visitor.