Sikhs hail ordination day of Guru Hargobind Singh

Amritsar, June 12 (ANI): Thousands of Sikhs visited the Golden Temple on Thursday to celebrate the 'Gurgaddi Divas' (ordination day) of Guru Hargobind Sahib, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs.

They took a holy dip in the lake revered as nectar amid which the famous temple is located.

"Gurgaddi Divas' of Sri Hargobind Sahib is being celebrated. A lot of devotees have come on this occasion to pay obeisance," said Baldev Singh Dhillon, a devotee.

"On this day, he gave a message to the Sikh community that instead of gifts, devotees should offer him horses, weapons and young boys to fight the tyrannical Mughal rulers," said Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, former chief priest of the Golden Temple.

Guru Hargobind Sahib ascended the Gurgaddi on June 11, 1606 when he was aged just 11-year-old.

He was born on June 19, 1595 at Guru Ki Wadali near Amritsar and was the only son of fifth Guru Arjan Dev ji and Mata Ganga ji.

Guru Arjan Dev ji was martyred and created history by following the cause of righteousness during the regime of Jehangir, the Mughal emperor whose tyranny touched heights of intolerance.

Following the martyrdom of his father, Hargobind Singh was left with no choice except to fight for the sacred cause for which his father had sacrificed his life.

He transformed the Sikh fraternity by introducing martial arts and weaponry for the defence of the masses and values upheld by the Gurus in the past.

Guru Hargobind Sahib built the Akal Takhat at Amritsar near Harmandar Sahib.

Guru Hargobind was the first Sikh Guru to engage in war and fought against tyranny of the Mughal Empire.

Guru Hargobind left for his heavenly abode on March 3, 1644. (ANI)