Patna: This year, Diwali at Takht Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib, one of the most sacred places for Sikhs, will be celebrated in a special way. The Gurudwara complex will shine with 11,000 earthen lamps, creating a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere. The Managing Committee has decided to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali to raise awareness about protecting the environment. Preparations for the grand celebration are going on in full swing, and there is great excitement among devotees who are eager to take part in this unique festival of lights.
According to Managing Committee Chairman Sardar Jagjot Singh Sohi and General Secretary Sardar Inderjit Singh, the Gurudwara will be beautifully decorated with diyas, flowers, and lights. During Diwali, there will be bhajans, kirtans, and special sermons, along with a langar for devotees who come from different states. Jathedar Bhai Baldev Singh said that every year, Sikh women from nearby homes light diyas and candles in the Gurudwara complex and offer prayers. He added that this time, the Managing Committee has decided to make the celebration more special and meaningful by focusing on environmental awareness.
Manager Sardar Daljit Singh said that Diwali in Patna Sahib holds a special place in the hearts of devotees because it is the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of Sikhism. People from Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, and other states visit Patna Sahib to celebrate this festival. Families recite verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, decorate their homes with rangoli, and light lamps as a symbol of faith, happiness, and peace. He said that such celebrations help connect people with the values of Sikhism and spread the message of unity and love.
The Diwali celebration at Takht Sri Harimandir Ji is also connected with the historic Bandi Chhor Divas, which marks the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Guru of Sikhism, from the Gwalior Fort. According to Sardar Gurvinder Singh, Vice President of the Managing Committee, Guru Hargobind Sahib was imprisoned by Mughal Emperor Jahangir, but he refused to leave until 52 other kings imprisoned with him were also freed. He had a special robe made with 52 tassels, and each king held one to walk out with him. When Guru Ji returned to Amritsar on the day of Kartik Amavasya, people lit lamps all around the Golden Temple to celebrate his return.
Since then, Sikhs all over the world celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas by lighting lamps in Gurudwaras and their homes. Families in Patna Sahib follow a tradition of carrying diyas from their homes to the Gurudwara, lighting them from the sacred flame, and then taking them back to their homes. They believe that this light brings joy, peace, and blessings. This year, with 11,000 diyas illuminating the holy Takht, Patna Sahib will once again glow with faith, devotion, and the spirit of protecting the environment.
