Darbar Sahib Gurdwara Kartarpur, commonly known as Kartarpur Sahib, is a gurdwara in Kartarpur, Pakistan’s Punjab province. It is built on the historic spot where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, stayed and gathered the Sikh community for 18 years until his death in 1539. Along with the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, it is one of the holiest locations in Sikhism.
The Gurdwara is also famous for its location to the Pakistan-India border. From the Indian side of the border, the shrine is visible. Large crowds of Indian Sikhs assemble on hills to perform darshan or spiritual sight of the spot from the Indian side of the border.
It is also said to be the largest gurudwara in the world.
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, is the most important event for Sikhism believers. It honours the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru. The event is held on Kartik Poornima, which is the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik according to the Hindu calendar and normally falls in November according to the Gregorian calendar.
Celebrations in Gurudwaras begin two days before Guru Nanak Jayanti. Akhand Path is a 48-hour non-stop recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib. A Nagarkirtan procession is held the day before Guru Nanak’s birthday. The Panj Pyare, or five men carrying the Sikh triangle flag, Nishan Sahib, lead the parade.
People sing hymns in groups, perform traditional instruments, and demonstrate their martial arts talents. The joyous procession marches through streets festooned with flags and flowers. In Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, Guru Nanak Jayanti is observed as a public holiday.
Guru Nanak Gurupurab Date is 8 November 2022
What Is The History Running Behind Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara?
The Gurdwara was created to celebrate the location where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, resided and conducted farming following his religion. In 1504, Guru Nanak created Kartarpur by ploughing the grounds and establishing a Langar.
He established a Sikh commune there and remained there for 18 years until his death on September 22, 1539. The Gurdwara was constructed on the site where Guru Nanak is claimed to have died. It is therefore the Sikh religion’s second holiest temple, after Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, which is the birthplace of Guru Nanak.
Guru Nanak taught the three concepts of Kirat Karo, Naam Japo, and Wand Chako, which mean work hard for a living, remembering God, and sharing your success with the world. Peace, harmony, and universal brotherhood were among Guru’s teachings. Guru Nanak believed in the equality of castes, faiths, and genders and coined the phrase Ik Onkar, which means “there is only one God.”
According to popular tradition, after Guru Nanak died, there was a conflict between local Hindus and Muslims. Muslims, who considered him as their pir, wanted him buried, while Hindus, who saw Nanak as their guru, wanted his remains burned. However, according to folklore, Guru Nanak’s body was transformed into flowers, which were then shared between the two groups.
What Are The Timings To Visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara?
kartarpur sahib gurdwara is open from Sunday to Saturday from 8:00 AM- 8:00 PM. The best time to visit Gurdwara is around 1:00 PM as there is less rush during these hours.
Pakistan has increased the entry charge for Muslims wishing to visit the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara from Rs 200 to Rs 400. Indian worshippers traveling from Dera Baba Nanak in the Gurdaspur district to the temple must pay a service fee of US $20.
How To Apply To Visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara From India(Ticket Booking)?
Pilgrims from India can register online using the link https://prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in. You will find it more convenient if you register at least 10 days before your chosen travel date. Before completing the online registration form:
It is suggested that you have an Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you do not already have the programme, you may get it here.
To complete the registration form, the applicant must be informed of his or her blood group.
Candidates Requirement are as Follows:
- Applicants must have a valid passport.
- Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders must enter their OCI card information in the registration form.
- It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide comprehensive information, including spellings of names, dates of birth, and so on, as in a passport.
- Incorrect or incorrect information, as well as hiding any material facts in the application form, will result in the application being rejected.
While filling out the registration form, keep the following items on hand:
- a scanned copy of a passport-sized photo (in JPG format not exceeding 300 kb in size).
- Scanned copy of passport and last page with family details in pdf format, no more than 500 kb.
- Scanned copy of the first page of the OCI Card in pdf format only (no more than 500kb in size).
To check your application status online visit this link https://prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in/kpr/applicationStatus
- Print the registration form and keep it with you for future reference.
- Applicants who are approved will receive electronic travel authorization (ETA) at the e-mail address they supplied in their application. Travelers must carry a copy of their ETA to gain access.
- Please keep in mind that travelers must leave in the morning and return the same day. Travelers would be permitted to visit just Sri Kartarpur
Sahib and no other locations.
What Are The Factors To Consider When Visiting A Gurdwara?
If you meet the requirements, you will be issued an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) with Confirmed status. Only four days before your trip, you will be notified of the status of your application. The terminal has four security checks. You will not require a visa, stamp, or passport.
- Visitors are not permitted to carry more than 7 kilogrammes.
- Visitors are permitted to carry up to $11,000 in cash.
- Visitors are not permitted to spend the night.
- Pay the Pakistani government $20 for the visit.
- You will be dropped off at the Indo-Pak border by a golf car. Another buggy from Pakistan will take you to the Gurudwara. You must return before the sun goes down.
How To Reach Katarpur Sahib Gurdwara?
Via Air- The nearest airport is Amritsar, which is 48.7 kilometers from the Kartarpur Corridor Border Terminal, the corridor’s entry point.
Via Train- The nearest railway stations to the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur, Punjab are Batala Junction (25 kilometers), Chhina (26 kilometers), and Ramdas (27 kilometers) (13km). Transport will be accessible at the Corridor’s entrance Terminal. The length of the hallway leading to the gurdwara can also be walked.
Visas and documents: Indian Sikhs would simply need valid identity evidence to enter the 4km-long corridor to the Gurudwara on Guru Purab. There is no passport. There is no visa.
Non-Sikh Indians, on the other hand, will need a passport but no visa. Pilgrims from other countries will need a visa to enter the corridor. A visitor application can be completed and submitted here.
- There will be no charge for visitors on the day of Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary, though there may be a little price later.
