Tens of thousands converge on Guru’s holy town
   Date :11-Nov-2019

By Vishal Gulati
TENS of thousands of devotees from across the globe are converging every day in this holy town associated with the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, whose 550th birth anniversary falls on Tuesday. It is here that the Sikh first master gained enlightenment at the end of the 15th century.
 
Organisers say the desire of devotees is to pay obeisance at the historic Gurudwara Ber Sahib and to have a ‘ashnaan’ (dip) in Kali Bein. The devotees are feeling fortunate to have ‘choola’ (sip of water) from the holy Bein. It is believed that Guru Nanak disappeared into the waters of the Bein rivulet, reappearing three days later as the enlightened Guru. The ground of Gurudwara Ber Sahib marks the spot, where Guru Nanak entered the rivulet.
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning paid obeisance at the historic Ber Sahib Gurudwara, before heading for Dera Baba Nanak to inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor and flag off the first lot of pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The three-storey gurudwara was built by the ruler of Kapurthala in the mid 20th century and features slender octagonal pillars, a marble sanctum and stucco designs at the entrance.
 
A grand light and sound show that uses ultra modern techniques to narrate the life and philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev is the star attraction for the thousands of devotees attending the commemoration.