INSIDE THE GURU'S GATE - Anpere

Immediately after Arti, the granthi presents an Ardas in which he excuses for all
inconveniences the congregation has caused Guru Granth Sahib during Nagar kirtan
and expresses thanks for the blissful completion of the auspicious journey. Headed
by the elder group of panj pyare the scripture is restored to sachkhand to the melodious
chanting of “Satnam Vahiguru”. Inside the gurdwara religious programs with singing
of gurbani may continue up to the late evening, but the yearly “town praising”
and public procession of the scripture has come to an end.
SERVICE TO THE STANDARD
At seven in the morning on the day before a gurpurub, the congregation changes the
saffron colored clothes covering the pole of Nishan Sahib ‒ the Sikh flag ‒ in the two
gurdwaras. The rather small and informal ceremony is called Nishan Sahib Seva, “service
to the respected flag”. For several years the responsibility of this type of seva has
been assumed to one elderly man named Karam Singh. After a customarily reading
of Ardas, Karam is seated on a small board while the sevadars virtually hoist him more
than a hundred feet above the ground by means of a lifting device. Karam manually
uncovers the Nishan Sahib and ties on the new textiles until the pole is covered from
top to bottom. The procedure takes between two to three hours to complete and ends
with an Ardas.
One granthi explained that Nishan Sahib Seva on the Gurus’ anniversary days is a
tradition that goes back to the time when the standard was instituted as a Sikh symbol.
“It is an act of reverence. Nishan Sahib should not be naked. It should always look
good,” he added. Up to the mid 1990s the gurdwara people used to change the cover
twice a year in connection with gurpurubs, but because of environmental pollution the
procedure is nowadays conducted on each sangrand. Community members donate
the new saffron-colored coverings and give monetary gifts that will cover the expenses
of the service. 662 Members who want to sponsor this seva on other occasions
can also do so. The discarded garment of Nishan Sahib is believed to be pure and
charged with blessings of the Guru and is therefore cautiously taken care of. When
the old cloths fall to the ground they are wrapped in robes, and later cut into strips
for distribution to devotees. People may keep the pieces of these cloths at their houses
with reverence or sew shawls, and turbans from it. Some devotees will also carry
smaller pieces of the cover in their handbag or wallet for protection and good fortune.
THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
On the day celebrating the Guru’s birthday the air inside the Gurubagh Gurdwara
will be filled with the smell of fried bread and vegetables. From the early morning
hours men and women prepare huge amounts of food for a large-scaled public distribution
of food. To local Sikhs this is a “day of happiness” that will attract thousands
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In 2005 the “cost” of Nishan Sahib Seva amounted to 1000 rupees.
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Published on www.anpere.net in May 2008