Takhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib is the main Gurudwara
situated in Nanded, Maharashtra. It is one of the four High seats of
Authority of the Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh was the 10th and last Guru
of the Sikhs who held his court and congregation here. He died in
Nanded and his ashes are buried in the Sachkhand Shri Huzur Gurudwara
on the side of the river Godavari. It is believed that from Nanded
Guru Gobind Singhji rose to heaven along with his horse Dilbag.
The tercentenary celebration of Gur-ta-Gaddi to be celebrated at the
Sachkhand Gurudwara at Nanded is of great relevance to the Sikh
Community. This involves the remembrance of the 300th year of the
consecration of Guru Granth Sahib as the last guru of Sikh community
by Guru Gobind Singhji. The event will also commemorate the 300th
anniversary of the Parlok Gaman of Guru Gobind Singhji. The event will
be of 8 days duration and will be conducted in the month of October
2008. The event will attract estimated pilgrims of 25-30 Lacs from all
over the world.
The main course of events for the tercentenary celebration would
be for twelve days. The event will be celebrated during the Diwali of
the year 2008. Takhat Snan will be one day before Diwali. Diwali is
another auspicious day for the function. The next day after the Diwali
a procession (JULUS) will be conducted. Second day after the Diwali is
the day of celebration of GURTA-GADDI Tercentenary Event. Fifth day
after the Diwali is the remembrance of the 300th anniversary of
Parlokgaman of Guru Gobind Singhji.
The peak load of pilgrims can be expected in Nanded city for these
seven days and preparation have to be made accordingly. It is expected
that pilgrims will start arriving in the city 3 days prior to Takhat
Snan and the pilgrims will leave the city in two days after
Parlokgaman. Event Schedule
S.L No
Event
Date
1.
Takhat Snan (Holy Bath)
24/10/2008
2.
Diwali
25/10/2008
3.
Julus (Procession)
26/10/2008
4.
Gurta-Gaddi (Inception of Guru
Granth Sahib)
27/10/2008
5.
Parlok Gaman (Death of Guru Gobind
Singhji)
30/10/2008
Location of the
Events
The core activity center would be the Sachkhand Gurudwara where the
main events would be held. Pilgrim movement can also be expected in
the other Seven Gurudwara in Nanded. Another location of relevance
shall be the Ghats in the River Godavari near the Nagina Ghat and
Bandar Ghat Gurudwara where the Takhat Snan will be conducted.
Planning will include the development of more ghats along the
Campsite, which will reduce the crowd movement towards the main
Gurudwara and Nagina Ghat region for the holy bath.
Estimation of the Pilgrim Flow:
The total number of pilgrims that can be expected for the event has to
be estimated by attributing proper weightage for the considerations:
• Relevance of the Event
• Location spread of the Community
• Regional Accessibility
Relevance of the Event:
The event is of high relevance to the Sikh community considering its
occurrence once in 100 years. Besides that it also involves the
remembrance of the most important landmark events in the Sikh history.
The occasion involves remembrances of the following events.
• Consecration of Guru Granth Sahib as the Future Guru of Sikh
Community
• Parlokgaman of Guru Gobind Singhji, the last guru of Sikh Community
These two events confer the occasion a “must visit” status for the
Tercentenary Function in the perception of the Sikh Community.
