Gurudwaras of World
Gateway to Sikhism proudly launches
Gurudwaras of World @ www.worldgurudwaras.com
Gateway to Sikhism proudly launches Gurudwaras of World @ www.worldgurudwaras.com on auspicious day of Khalsa Sajna Divas , Vaisakhi April 14th 2012. Worldgurudwaras.com will strive to be most comprehensive directory of Historical Gurudwaras and Non Historical Gurudwaras around the world.
The etymology of the term 'gurdwara' is from the words 'Gur (ਗੁਰ)' (a reference to the Sikh Gurus) and 'Dwara (ਦੁਆਰਾ)' (gateway in Gurmukhi), together meaning 'the gateway through which the Guru could be reached'. Thereafter, all Sikh places of worship came to be known as gurdwaras.
It is a work in progress and We strongly urge the Sikh Cyber Community to contribute to this project by submitting contact information, details, images of Gurudwaras around the world to make this a comprehensive directory.
Historical Gurudwaras in Pakistan
Gurudwara Pehli Patshahi at Manak, Distt Lahore
Gurudwara Pehli Patshahi at Manak, Distt Lahore |
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This village called Manak is located at a distance
of 45 kilometer from Lahore on Raiwind road. You have to get down from
the bus at Pajian to
reach this' village. It is about 4 kilometer off the main road. A metalled
road leads to the village. When Jagat Guru came to village Pajian from
Manga, the villagers initially welcomed him but later made fun of him.
Jagat Guru left the village and stayed at this place outside the village.
Some follower asked Guru Dev Ji as to why he had moved out of the village.
Guru Ji said those were "Paji" (mean) and hence the village
cane to be called Pajian and -the mound came to he known as Manak. It
subsequently developed into a big village.
The 3-storeyed building of Gurdwara had been built beautifully and it
was spacious. The complex incJudpd a Langar Hall, Prakashasthan, inn,
foyer, and a diwan hall built like a haradari. There were Samadhs of
Udasi Sadhus and a water tank close to the shrine. The tank has now become
a stagnant pool. These buildings are in the process of decay and may
become a heap of dust. The central building collapsed during the last
two years.
82 ghumaon of land has been gifted by villagers to the Gurdwara. The
Jats. of this village belong to the same grandfather. Some of them were
converted to Islam, others became Sikhs while the rest remained Hindus.
Visakhi fair is held and during the fair the villagers are not allowed
to cook in their homes. All, irrespective of their religion, take food
from Langar. It is managed by Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus alternately for
one day. After 1947 a girls school was housed in it but later on the
premises was left vacant. When refugees from Mewat arrived they were
settled here and they did not bother to maintain it. Floral designs on
the walls were erased. It was followed by the caving in of roofs. Now
the walls too are falling part.
 | Text and photographs:Historical Sikh Shrines in Pakistan : Iqbal Qaiser |
