Golden palanquin to be installed at Guru Nanak's birth place in Pak

Patiala, Dec 31 (UNI) A golden palki (palanquin) would be installed at sanctum sanctorum of Gurdwara Janam Astanth Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, the birth place of first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev, after removing century old marble canopy.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harvinder Singh Sarna said here today that in a month or two, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) would replace the marble canopy with golden palanquin.

Mr Sarna informed that Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board, the parent body of PSGPC has given directions to replace the marble canopy as it was broken from many sides and could not be repaired.

Welcoming the decision of the Pakistan government, Mr Sarna said that, a 'kar sewa' (free service) at Gurdwara Jannam Aasthan Nankana Sahib Pakistan was working under the technical expertise of Sikh architectures with the Sikh tradition.

He said that the 'kar sewa' is being under taken by 'Dera Baba Jeven Singh Baba Jagtar Singh Kar Sewa Tarn Taran'.

The shifting of golden palanquin from New Delhi by DSGMC in November 2005, he said was opposed by several Sikh organisations as they were against ''installation'' of the golden palki at Janam Aasthan, Pakistan.

The DSGMC president, who spearheaded the Nagar Kirtan of carrying golden palanquin from New Delhi to Nankana Sahib, had said earlier this month that they had handed over the palanquin to the PSGPC and it was up to them where to place it but he was hopeful that the palanquin would be installed at sanctum sanctorum only.

UNI