Facelift for Amritsar's Akal Takht

Summeet Kaur · August 2, 2003

Sangat Jee..this is a beautifully written article off Yahoo News! I love the bolded part of this article..trust you understand why.. :D

Waheguroo..too prabh data, daan mut poora..

Facelift for Amritsar's Akal Takht http://news.waheguroo.com/?{633Q6-17274-69...49443-Q3231-32}

Yahoo News, India

Friday, 1th August 2003

Amritsar -- The 17th century Akal Takht, the Sikh community's highest temporal authority will soon undergo a facelift.

If the shrine authorities are to be believed, the interiors of this institution will soon feature exquisite inlay marble work.

With expense having no bearing on the project, every effort is being made to create a brilliant ambience from scratch.

Putting pen to paper, artists have reportedly come up with a range of soft designs reflecting tranquility and peace. The best artisans in the field will brought for the project that aims to restore real Sikh art as it existed during the after the glorious reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

"We first researched extensively as to where the colored stones could be procured from. There are over 10 varieties and colors which we got from New Zealand, Switzerland, Italy, parts of India and some like the blue 'neelam' from the sea bed," says Baba Amrik Singh, Chief Sewadar at the Akal Takht Sahib.

"After all the research and collection, we have reached a stage where we find that the final p

roduct is ready. It is now to be fixed in the Akal Takht Sahib," he adds.

Cutting the colored stone according to the paper shapes, the next stage. Taking substantial pains over each individual design. And then denting the marble surface to be plugged by the inlay stones. The work will involve the use of six skilled artisans over 16 days just to complete the inlay of stones in the patterns of a 3 by 3 feet marble slab.

Artisans are being brought in from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Western Uttar Pradesh, states, areas where inlay works is a special skill.

Over and above all this, is the spirit of service, says Amrik Singh.

"All our hard work is a form of prayer for 'Wahe Guru'. This is our 'kirtan', this is our 'jaap'. Besides just this there is such beautiful work in gurudwaras, such as not found anywhere in the world, not even with kings and royalty. They can be seen only in the abode of the Guru," he adds.

It has taken more than five years to reach this stage, he says.

He describes it as a feat of artistic brilliance and spiritual achievement.