A gurdwara is the place of worship for Sikhs. People from all faiths, and those who do not profess any faith, are welcomed in Sikh gurdwaras. Each gurdwara has a Darbar Sahib where the current and everlasting Guru of the Sikhs, the holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib is placed on a Takhat –an elevated throne, in a prominent central position. The Raagis recite, sing and explain, the verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, in the presence of the holy congregation. All gurdwaras have a langar hall, where people can eat free vegetarian food. They may also have a library, nursery, and classroom. A gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag.
Top 10 Gurdwaras in Delhi
Since Delhi is the ancient and historically important city of India, it has a number of Gurdwaras where pople pay their visits, sing and listen verses from Guru Granth Sahib. The top 10 gurudwaras in Delhi have been identified and details thereof given in.
1. Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
One of the well known and presitgeous gurdwara of India, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is strategically located in the heart of New Delhi, near Connaught Place. It is associated with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan, as well as the It was first built as a small shrine by Sikh General Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783, who supervised the construction of nine Sikh shrines in Delhi in the same year, during the reign of Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II.
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib used to be a residential complex of Raja Jai Singh, an Indian ruler in the seventeenth century, and was known as Jaisinghpura Palace. The eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan resided here during his stay in Delhi in 1664. During that time, there was a smallpox and cholera epidemic, and Guru Har Krishan helped the suffering by giving aid and fresh water from the well at this house. Soon he too contracted the illness and eventually died on March 30, 1664. A small tank was later constructed by Raja Jai Singh over the well, its water is now revered as having healing properties and is taken by Sikhs throughout the world back to their homes.
The Gurdwara and its Sarovar are now a place of great reverence for Sikhs, and a place for special congregation on birth anniversary of Guru Har Krishan.
2. Gurdwara Sis Ganj
This gurdwara is known as one of the nine historical gurdwaras in Delhi. Established in 1783 by Baghel Singh to commemorate the martyrdom site the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. Situated in Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, it marks the site where the ninth Sikh Guru was beheaded on the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb on 11 November 1675 for refusing to convert to Islam.
The ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur’s head was cut here on 11 November 1675 on the order of Aurangzeb. Before his body could be quartered and exposed to public view, it was stolen under the cover of darkness by one of his disciples, Lakhi Shah Vanjara, who then burnt his house to cremate the Guru’s body.
The gurudwara structure which looks as now was built in 1930. The trunk of tree under which the Guru was beheaded is also preserved here as is the well from which he took bath while in the prison. Also standing adjoining the gurudwara is the police station, where Guru was imprisoned and his disciples were tortured.
3. Gurdwara Damdama Sahib
Gurdwara Damdama Sahib is located near Humayun’s Tomb on the Outer Ring Road, New Delhi. This gurdwara is associated with the Tenth Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji. It commemorates his meeting in 1707 with Prince Muazzam, later Emperor Bahadur Shah. He had been requested by the Prince for help in his battle for succession for the throne with his brother, after the death of Aurangzeb. Guru Sahib met the Prince at this place and together, they drew up their strategy. They watched elephant and bull fights organized for their entertainment.
Gurdwara Damdama Sahib (place of rest) was first built by Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783, when a huge Sikh army under his command conquered Delhi. At first it was a small Gurdwara. Later Maharaja Ranjit Singh delegated his officials to renovate the Gurdwara. Consequently, a deorhi (Sikh architectural structure) was constructed, including buildings for priests and pilgrims. In 1984, a new building was constructed. Every year thousands of devotees assemble here to celebrate the festival called Hola Mohalla.
4. Gurdwara Rakabganj
The Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib is situated near Parliament House in New Delhi. It was built in 1783, after Sikh military leader Baghel Singh (1730–1802) captured Delhi, on 11 March 1783, and his brief stay in Delhi, led to the construction of several Sikh religious shrines within the city. This one marks the site of cremation of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, after his execution in November 1675, under orders of Aurangzeb. The gurudwara built near old Raisina village near Raisina Hill, at present Pandit Pant Marg, took 12 years to build. Prior to that, a mosque had been built near the spot; eventually later Mughal emperor Shah Alam II gave the permission to build a gurdwara there.
The gurdwara marks the site, where Lakhi Shah Banjara and his son Bhai Naghaiya burnt their own house to cremate the body of the Sikh guru Guru Tegh Bahadur who, on 11 November 1675, was beheaded in Chandni Chowk on the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam.
5. Gurdwara Majnu-ka-Tilla
Gurdwara Majnu-ka-Tilla is situated on the bank of river Yamuna, opposite Timarpur Colony beyond the Khyber Pass section of Delhi, India. The birthday of the Khalsa is celebrated here with much festivity on Baisakhi day. On this day, which holds a special place in the hearts of all Sikhs, the city swells with pilgrims from the surrounding areas. With many people of different creeds, castes, and status join the Sikhs of Delhi. During the festivities a special langar (a free kitchen or meal) of enormous size is arranged.
It is said that Baghel Singh’ who conquered Delhi in 1783 and held it under his sway for a few months, also encamped at Majnu-Ka-Tilla. According to records it was the General Baghel Singh who raised a small structure at this sacred place to perpetuate the memory of the Sikh Gurus. The tiny, old marble Gurdwara which exists even today, was constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh who also endowed it with a jagir. The income from this jagir was spent on the maintenance of this historical shrine. In 1950 a big Gurdwara building was constructed by the sangat of Delhi. This Majestic Gurdwara is situated on the right bank of the River Yamuna on the Grand Trunk Road (National Highway-1), opposite Timarpur, Delhi.
6. Gurdwara Nanak Piao
It is a historical Gurdwara located in north Delhi in India. This gurdwara sahib is dedicated to the first Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Gurdwara Nanak Piao was built at t
he site, in the garden where Guru Nanak Dev camped when he visited Delhi in 1505 during the reign of Sultan Sikandar Lodi. It is situated on Rana Pratap Road (also known as Grand Trunk Road or GT Road). It is said that people flocked to the revered prophet and offered him and Bhai Mardana precious gifts and offerings. Guru Nanak Dev Ji used to distribute all these offerings to the poor and needy. Besides this, he used to offer food and water to the hungry and thirsty, hence the name of the shrine. The word “Piao” mean to “offer liquid to drink” and refers to the offering of water to all the thirsty who visited this shrine.
It is said that Even today, the Well used by the Guru is preserved and one can still see the well from which Guru Nanak served water at the shrine. Consequently, over time Gurdwara Nank Piao attained a status of a holy and revered historical shrine. Guru Nanak Dev was an apostle of peace, brotherhood, non-violence and amity. His sermons created very uplifting and healthy impact on the people who bowed before him as respect for his spiritual guidance. The garden surrounding the Gurdwara became a place of pilgrimage for the people from all over Delhi. This is where they received the message of spiritual deliverance.
7. Gurdwara Shri Bala Sahib
Gurdwara Bala Sahib is one of the most important Sikh shrines in Delhi, next in importance to Gurdwara Sis Ganj and Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. Large number of Sikhs and Hindus visit this holy place daily. This Gurdwara is associated with the eighth Guru Sri Harkrishan Sahib ji and two wives of Guru Gobind Singh namely Mata Sundri ji and Mata Sahib Kaur ji.
During his stay in Delhi, Guru Harkrishan Sahib won the hearts of a large number of admirers by applying healing touch on ailing bodies. He cured hundreds of people, suffering from acute attack of cholera and smallpox. For Sikhs of Delhi, his very presence amidst them, had a very healthy impact. For them the Guru was the boat of salvation, a ladder to reach one’s ultimate home, a key to open the lock,a unifier of man with God and so on. In fact for Sikhs a Guru is indispensable, yet he is not an end in himself, but only a means for the attainment of salvation.
8. Gurdwara Moti Bagh
Gurdwara Moti Bagh is associated with the tenth Guru Sri Gobind Singh. He camped here during his first visit to Delhi. He had come to Delhi in response to the request made by Prince Muazzam who sought his help in the battle of succession for the throne of Delhi. This happened in 1707, when the struggle for succession started due to sudden death of Emperor Aurangzeb in Decean. Bhai Nand Lal great scholar and poet of Persian, a Devotee of Guruji, requested him to help Prince Muazzam, the eldest son of Aurangzeb.
Guru Gobind Singh already had a good impression about the prince who earned the displeasure of his father by refusing to attack the former at Anandpur Sahib. The prince had been deputed by the Mughal Emperor to surpress the activities of the Guru in Punjab. He had received alarming reports in Deccan from Chiefs of Shivalik Hills against the Guru. But the prince after making impartial inquiry into the false reports sent by the hill chiefs wrote to the Emperor that Guru Gobind Singh was a darvesh (Holyman) and the real trouble makers were the Hill Rajas. Opposition to father’s will had cost the prince imprisonment.
9. Gurdwara Baba Banda Singh Bahadur
Gurdwara Shahidi Asthaan Baba Banda Singh Bahadur is situated in the Meharauli Area of Delhi near the Qutab Minar. Here Baba Banda Singh Bahadur ji, his four year old son Ajai Singh along with forty Sikhs were tourtured to death by the Mughals.
Banda Bahadur’s courage was unparalleled. He possessed a most fearless and undaunted spirit. W.L. M’ Gregor, in his The History of the Sikhs wrote, “Banda Bahadur was a man of undaunted valour and bravery”. The coolness with which he met his death, earned praise for Banda even from the historian Khafi Khan. Banda Bahadur took over the military leadership of the Sikhs after the death of Guru Gobind Singh. On embracing Sikhism he became a staunch Khalsa Sant-Soldier of the tenth Guru, who followed the teachings of the Gurus in theory and practice living a pure and simple life.
10. Gurdwara Mata Sundari
Gurdwara Mata Sundri is considered to be one of the major historical Gurudwara (temples) of the Sikh; it is a landmark on the Mata Sundri road in the heart of Delhi. It is situated behind JP Nayak Hospital, the Gurudwara is a tribute to Mata Sundri, the wife of the 10th Guru – Guru Gobind Singh.
Mata Sundri was considered to be the first wife of the tenth Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708). The Delhi Gurdwara Committee constructed an imposing shrine on the site of the Haveli, where Mata Sundri stayed after the departure of the Guru to Deccan. While some claim that Sangat (public) raised a shrine in her loving memory on the spot where she lived for half of her life. Most of the Sikhs believe that after the passing away of Guru Gobind Singh at Nanded in October 1708, she nurtured and guided the Khalsa for forty years after the Guru’s death Sikhs followed her instructions and respected her, looked up to her for guidance. Mata Sundri Kaur left for her heavenly abode in 1747 at this place where now the temple resides and her last rites were performed at the place of Gurdwara Bala Sahib.