The H block Gurudwara took a Jattha of 117 people to visit the Gurudwara at Kartarpur. Arvinder Singh took the lead to make lodging and transport arrangements and also getting the necessary permissions as Kartarpur is situated in Pakistan at a distance of 50 km from Amritsar.
They congregated at the Gurudwara early in the morning of the 7th of March and travelled by train to Amritsar. The journey to the border town of Dera Baba Nanak was made by bus. After the immigration process, they were ferried by Pakistan buses via the Kartarpur corridor to the Gurudwara.
At the site, there is a Mazar and a Gurudwara. As the story goes, after Guru Nanak’s soul left his body, the Muslims claimed him as their pir and the Hindus as their guru. When the sheet covering him was lifted, all they found under it were some flowers. The Hindus and Muslims divided the flowers and sheets amongst themselves. Half of it was buried according to Muslim custom, hence a Mazar. Hindu last rites were performed for the other part. A few steps from that site lead to the Gurudwara which was then built.
The congregation paid obeisance and partook in the langar. It was cooked and served by both Muslim and Sikh Sewadars. There is a small market selling clothes, dry fruit etc. nearby. The return journey had to be initiated by 4 pm, Pakistan time.
It was a dream come true for the devotees and they were all in praise of those who enabled them to go on this pilgrimage.
by Anita Sood With inputs from Gurdeep Kaur of Silver Oaks
