Sacred well in Kathmandu gurdwara cleaned

[Azaad]

With the historical "khuhi" (well) at a gurdwara in Kathmandu finally cleaned, efforts are now underway to restore the wooden structure of Gurdwara Nanak Math that has been raised on the site believed to be visited by the founder of Sikhism in 1516. The gurdwara is situated on the banks of the Vishnumati river.

The Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust headed by Dubai-based businessman SP Singh Oberoi has undertaken the kar sewa of all the three gurdwaras in Nepal with the help of local Sikhs.

Oberoi discovered the gurdwara structure during one of his Kathmandu visits. He took up the issue of its restoration with the Nepal Prime Minister in November last year.

"We have been carrying out the kar sewa of a 27-ft deep historical well in another gurdwara. Interestingly, after cleaning, inscriptions of Mool Mantra surfaced on the walls of the well in one of the three gurdwaras in Kathmandu," he claimed.

"The Nepal Prime Minister has assured us all possible help towards the ongoing restoration of the structure. He would be looking into possibilities of retrieving the shrine's vacant land," said Oberoi.

He said the trust headed by him was had also undertaken the construction of a langar hall (community kitchen) in the gurdwara premises as well as that of 100-room inn for Sikh pilgrims.

About the shrine

• Guru Nanak Dev is belived to have visited Kathmandu in 1516 on his way back from Tibet
  
• He stayed at a place that was later named as Gurdwara Nanak Math
  
• It was earlier known as Sangat Bari, Charbaksh Sthan and Sankha Bari
  
• The then King of Nepal donated 200 acres of land in Guru Nanak's honour
  
• Now only five acres of land remains
  
• There are three gurdwaras in Kathmandu run by mahants from Varanasi and Punjab
  

[chatanga]

Fantastic! an encouraging event to help restore more Sikh heritage to the world.