Baba Gurmukh Singh

He was born in 1888 at Lalton Khurd, District Ludhiana. He studied up to Matriculation at a Church Mission School of Ludhiana and was a school-mate of Kartar Singh Sarabha. In 1914 he decided to go to America. At Hong Kong, he learnt about the new restrictions imposed by the Canada Government. He got a seat in the Kamagata Maru. When the ship reached Canada were not allowed to leave their ship and enter America. After a great suffering the ship sailed back to India with all its passengers. At the Budge Budge Ghat (Calcutta) where they landed, a serious clash occurred between them and the police. Gurmukh Singh escaped but for a short time. Three days later, he was captured at Calcutta and confined in the Alipur jail. After three months he was brought to the Punjab. Though he was placed under orders of internment, who under the influence of Kartar Singh Sarabha and Rash Bihari Bose he made efforts to establish secret contacts with Indian soldiers in some of the Punjab cantonments. But all plans of Gurmukh Singh and his companions went away on account of betrayal of one of their colleagues. He was arrested among the many revolutionaries after the disclosure of the plot. He was confined in the Lahore Central Jail and tried in the First Lahore Conspiracy Case along with others. On being sentenced he was sent to Kala Pani (Andaman Islands). The transfer created in his mind the idea of running away but he preferred to wait for a better opportunity. He jumped off a running train when he was being transferred from Madras to UP in 1922 and escaped to the Punjab. From there, after some years, he proceeded to Kabul via Khybr Pass in company with Teja Singh Swatantar. In 1934 after he came back he was arrested again on suspicion of being in correspondence with Ghadrites and transported to Kala Pani to complete the remained of his incarceration which was now enhanced by six months by way of penalty for his misconduct. He remained in confinement on the Andman Islands till 1945 or so. After that he was transferred to the Punjab and kept in the Multan jail. From there he was released in 1947 on the country's attainment of freedom.

Freedom Fighters of Punjab

Punjab had made great sacrifices in the freedom struggle of India and it is full of Memorials to such martyrs and also to the heroes of INDO-PAK WARS.

Jallianwala Bagh Martyr's Memorial Amritsar:
Unprovoked massacre of peaceful people by Brig-En Dyer had created a watershed in the history of freedom struggle in India when even peaceful leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, instead of asking for dominion status within the British Empire had begun to agitate for complete freedom for India from the British rule. Queen Elizabeth and her husband placed a wreath here on 14th Oct.,1997.

Martyrs: Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru Memorial, Ferozepur
They were such popular heroes that the Imperial Govt. executed them stealthily at Lahore and their bodies were cremated on the bank of river Sutlej almost a hundred km away.

The Sargarhi Memorial at Ferozepur
It commemorates the battle which took place on Samna Ridge of the Hindu Kush and Suliaman ranges in 1897 when 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikh (later 4 Sikh) regiment had died fighting to the last man against a several times greater force of the local Chiefs. The history of this battle is taught in the French Schools and forms part of the 8 narratives of collective bravery published by UNESCO.

Desh Bhagat Hall, Jalandhar
It is a memorial of freedom fighters, also, contains the best library on the subject

BABA GURDIT SINGH
He was born in 1860 at Sarhali, district Amritsar of the Punjab.


BABA GURMUKH SINGH
He was born in 1888 at Lalton Khurd, District Ludhiana.


BABA KHARAK SINGHBaba Kharak Singh was born in 1868 at Sialkot.

BABA HARI SINGH USMAN He was born in 1880 at Baddowal, District Ludhiana.

Beauty Food

There is no doubt that all of us want to look beautiful, slim and fit. One has to exercise sufficiently to look good. But it is important to eat the right kind of diet to look beautiful. There are a number of beauty foods that are healthy and help in enhancing your looks. Given below some foods that you can add to your diet if you want to look beautiful.

• Apple Cider Vinegar: This vinegar has a number of healing properties and it makes the skin soft and supple. Apple cider vinegar is concentrated with enzymes and these help peel off dead skin cells. It breaks down fat and helps food digest properly.
• Carrots: Help to maintain the outer layer of the skin to prevent premature aging. It works just like Retin A.
• Cheese: Make a slice or two of hard cheese a part of your diet. Cheese helps to prevent bacteria from growing in the mouth and prevents cavities. Choose between Swiss, cheddar or Gouda.
• Citrus Fruits: These fruits hold the skin cells together by forming collagen. Collagen cannot be added to the skin topically and hence fruits and juices must be made an integral part of your daily diet.
• Cranberries: These berries keep the urinary tract lining healthy.
• Garlic: Helps to combat wrinkles and restores tissues.
• Nonfat Yogurt: Is high is calcium and helps to keep your smile white and your teeth cavity-free.
• Sweet Potatoes: These potatoes are full of vitamin A and vitamin A is known for being an anti-wrinkling agent. The result of eating this vegetable is smoother skin.
• Tomatoes: This vegetable does wonders to your skin. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.
• Wheat Germ: To get rid of pimples efficiently include two or three tablespoons of wheat germ in your diet. You add this to your cereal, yogurt and cottage cheese.

Here are some general tips about a beauty diet:

• Vegetables: you should have three to five servings of vegetables daily. Include one serving of raw, leafy greens.
• Do not have more than three-ounce servings a day. Take off all the fat. Try to include two servings of turkey or chicken and a serving of fish a day is ideal.
• Fruits: Have two to three servings everyday. ½ cup of chopped or sliced fruit is one serving.
• Dairy: Have at least two servings daily. One serving is eight ounces of milk or yogurt.
• Fats: Salad dressing, cooking oil, butter and mayonnaise should be limited to two servings a day.

Eat these foods for beauty and follow the beauty diet and you will notice that over a short period of time you are looking better than you did before.

Tips To Look Young

No matter how old you are you would like to look young and smart. There are a number of beauty tricks that can take the years off you. These beauty tips will make you look young and you will start feeling young too. Read the simple tips given below for a younger and smarter look:

• Wear your hair below your chin. Side-swept bangs and hair just below the chin will make you look younger.
• The shade of lipstick you use can add or take off years. Do not use lipsticks in shades of brown.
• After you are thirty do not over pluck your eyebrows, as they may not grow back as quickly as they did earlier.
• Get your teeth whitened. Get the stains of coffee, tea or red wine removed and you will look much younger.
• Stand straight and erect. This will make you look a lot thinner and look younger too. This will also increase your confidence as well.
• Get a good night's sleep. If you do not sleep well your eyes will look puffy and your skin will look shallow and dull and your face will sag.

Cause of Dark Undereye Circles

Our face attracts the most amount of attention. Therefore, we pay most attention to the way our face looks. We take special care of our face, its skin, its appearance and we try to present our face in the most beautiful manner we can. In a person's face, it is the eyes that catch the attention of the observer. If the eyes are beautiful the beauty of the face is enhanced. But a problem that a number of women face is dark circles under the eyes. When a woman has dark circles under her eyes, no matter how beautiful her eyes are their impact is diminished because of these dark circles. If we understand the cause of dark circles then we may be able to deal with them and treat them if possible. There are a number reasons for dark circles under the eyes. Given below are some of the common causes for the unsightly dark circles.

• Heredity: Dark circles under the eyes can be an inherited trait. If you have dark circles, then it is likely that other members of your family have dark circles too. The skin under the eye is very thin. When blood flows through veins close to surface of the skin it can produce a bluish tint. If your skin is transparent then the darker the circles will be. Transparent skin is also a inherited trait.
• Exposure to Sun: Exposure to sun especially during the summer months can make the skin under the eyes look darker. This is true for dark skinned people as well. Suntans are caused by an increase in the natural pigmentation of the skin, as a result of exposure to the sun. This increase in pigmentation is drawn to the surface. This applies to the skin under the eyes as well.
• Allergies and Eczema: Any infection of the eye that leads to itching can contribute to dark circles as rubbing and scratching the eyes darkens the skin. People who suffer from hay fever will notice that dark circles appear when the allergy is at its height. Certain food allergies can cause dark circles too.
• Medication: Any medication that dilates your blood vessels can cause dark circles under the eyes. As the skin under the eye is delicate an increase in blood shows through the skin in the form of dark circles.
• Nutrition: An improper diet, an unbalanced diet or lack of a nutritious diet can cause dark circles under the eye.
• Tiredness and Lack of Sleep: A lack of sleep or excessive tiredness can cause the skin under the eyes to become pale, thus, making the blood flowing under it visible.
• Pregnancy and Menstruation: During pregnancy and menstruation the skin becomes pale and the veins under the skin become visible.
• Age: As you grow older there are greater chances that you will have dark circles and they may become more prominent and permanent. If there are too many folds in the skin under the eyes, it will make the dark circles more prominent.

Beauty Diet

Your diet contributes a great deal towards making you beautiful. Therefore eating a proper healthy diet is important to keep looking beautiful. Given below are a number of food items that you should include in your beauty diet.

• Almonds: These nuts are known for their anti-aging properties. They contain a lot of vitamin E and have a high amount of fatty acids that help to keep your skin supple. Almonds also contain antioxidant selenium. Do not too many of them as they will add calories. A handful is enough.
• Protein: To keep nails strong and moisturized by eating plenty of protein. Protein helps in the build up of keratin. Keratin is the substance that makes up nails. Skinless, boneless chicken breast, lean turkey, tuna and beans are rich in proteins.
• Vitamin B: Food that is rich in vitamin B makes your hair shiny. Important sources of this vitamin are eggs, milk, green vegetables and poultry. Silica is important to keep your hair elastic, shiny and healthy. Raw oats, cucumber skin, onions and bean sprouts are rich in this mineral.
• Fish: Eating oily fish like salmon that contain omega-3 fatty acids will help hydrating and nourishing skin.
• Zinc and Calcium: Both these minerals help in eradicating pimples. Zinc is found in oysters, turkey, seafood, eggs and milk. Calcium is no doubt good for your bones, but helps in clearing your skin too. Calcium rich foods like skim milk, low-fat cheese and yogurt. These foods not only remove pimples but reduce wrinkles as well.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps in the build up of collagen, which reduces wrinkles. When your skin has more collagen your skin retains its elasticity and wrinkles take longer to form. Kiwi fruit is the best source of vitamin C. Other good sources are oranges, mango, honeydew and papaya.
• Vitamin E: Vitamin E is known to ease the swelling and redness associated with sunburns. Swelling causes the stretching of skin that in turns leads to wrinkle formation. Eat plenty of peaches and blueberries to increase the build up of vitamin E in your body.
• Vitamin C and Iron: Vitamin C and iron together help to reduce the dark circles under your eyes. Eat skinless chicken and red, yellow and orange peppers. These are rich in both and will help in reducing dark circles.
• Water: Drink as much as water as you can. Water removes the toxins from the body and refreshes your skin and makes in glow. Water hydrates your skin and keeps it supple.
• Tomatoes: Tomatoes contains skin-caner-fighting antioxidants: beta-carotene, vitamin C and lycopene. Eat tomatoes in any form and you will ingest these antioxidants. To increase the body's absorption of lycopene cook tomatoes in a little olive oil.
• Apples and Celery: To remove stain from the enamel of your teeth eat crunchy foods like apples and celery.

Bulleh Shah

Bulleh Shah (1680 – 1757), whose real name was Abdullah Shah, was a Punjabi Sufi poet and humanist. He is believed to have been born in the small village of Uch, Bahawalpur in 1680 in modern day Pakistan. His ancestors had migrated from Bukhara in modern Uzbekistan . At the age of six months, his parents relocated to Malakwal. There his father, Shah Muhammad Darwaish, was a preacher in the village mosque and a teacher. His father later got a job in Pandoke, about 50 miles southeast of Kasur. Bulleh Shah received his early schooling in Pandoke, and later moved to Kasur for higher education, to become a student of the prominent professor, Ghulam Murtaza. Baba Bulleh Shah was a direct descendant of Muhammad peace be upon him, through the progeny of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Gillani of Baghdad.
A large amount of what is known about Bulleh Shah comes through legends, and is subjective; to the point that there isn’t even agreement among historians concerning his precise date and place of birth. Some "facts" about his life have been pieced together from his own writings. Other "facts" seem to have been passed down through oral traditions. Bulleh Shah practiced the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like Shah Hussain (1538 – 1599), Sultan Bahu (1629 – 1691), and Shah Sharaf (1640 – 1724). Bulleh Shah lived in the same period as the famous Sindhi Sufi poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhatai (1689 – 1752). His lifespan also overlapped with the legendary Punjabi poet Waris Shah (1722 – 1798), of Heer Ranjha fame, and the famous Sindhi Sufi poet Abdul Wahad (1739 – 1829), better known by his pen-name, Sachal Sarmast (“truth seeking leader of the intoxicated ones”). Amongst Urdu poets, Bulleh Shah lived a mere 400 miles from Mir Taqi Mir (1723 – 1810) of Agra.
Poetry Style:
The verse form Bulleh Shah primarily employed is called the Kafi (Refrain), a traditional style of Punjabi poetry used by Punjabi Sufis and Sikh gurus (such as Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh). In Bulleh's time, Sufi poets often did not adopt the classical languages of Persian and Urdu, instead choosing to write their verses in Punjabi, Saraiki, and Sindhi – languages of the commonfolk amongst whom they lived. Although the number is disputed, Bulleh Shah is credited with authoring anywhere from 50 to 150 Kafi, 1 Athwara, 1 Baramah, 3 Siharfi, 49 Oeodh and 40 Gandhan. This appears to be a large body of work; however, this oeuvre is small enough that one could read it all in a few weeks. What is most striking about Bulleh Shah’s poetry and philosophy is his audacious critique of the religious orthodoxy of his day, particularly the Islamic religious orthodoxy. His poetry is filled with direct attacks on those worldly, fake religeous leaders who claim control over religion, to the point of comparing mullahs to barking dogs and crowing roosters.
Spiritual Purification:
Sufis typically spend their lives trying to penetrate the meaning of life while searching for God. Those among them who were poets articulated this exploration through their poetry. ‘Who is the Creator?’ ‘What is the truth?’ ‘What is the meaning of life?’ ‘How can one find God?’ ‘Who am I?’ These are some of the questions Sufis have tried to answer, by dissociating themselves from worldly activity, and moving onto a saintly field where they are no longer bound by conventionally interpreted holy or material boundaries. Bulleh Shah studied Arabic, Persian and the Quran under his traditional teachers. After that, in an attempt to move to the next level (of mystic realization), he searched for a spiritual guide. Ultimately he found his murshid, in the form of Inayat Shah Qadri. Inayat Shah Qadri (or Shah Inayat, as he is referred to in Bulleh Shah’s poetry) was a Sufi of the Qadri order, who authored many Persian books on mysticism. He was from the Arain cast and grew vegetables to earn a living. Paradoxically, Bulleh Shah was of the much higher Syed caste. Yet, in defiance of tradition, Bulleh Shah accepted Shah Inayat as his spiritual master, and subordinated his life to his lower-caste murshid. Much of Bulleh Shah’s verses about love are addressed directly to his spiritual guide, Shah Inayat.
Religion:
Despite being very critical of religion, Bulleh Shah does not denounce religion as a whole. Nor does he appear to be pushing any other structure of thought to supplant religious notions. His ideas, therefore, cannot be placed into the category of secularism or atheism.As he says...I take myself to be the beginning and the end....I do not recognize aught except the One. In reality, Bulleh Shah seems somewhat critical of all persons in authority - including intellectuals, academicians and jurists - who create obstacles and needless complexities for common people in discovering love, and through love, discovering God. Bulleh Shah preaches an uncomplicated conception of humanity, as the common connection through which persons of all faiths, creeds and opinions can attain a superior and more pure existence, eventually coming closer to God.
Humanist:s
Bulleh Shah’s writings represent him as a humanist, someone providing solutions to the sociological problems of the world around him as he lives through it, describing the turbulence his motherland of Punjab is passing through, while concurrently searching for God. His poetry highlights his mystical spiritual voyage through the four stages of Sufism: Shariat (Islamic Law), Tariqat (Observance), Haqiqat (Truth-Essence) and Marfat (Union or God knowledge). The simplicity with which Bulleh Shah has been able to address the complex fundamental issues of life and humanity is a large part of his appeal. Thus, many people have put his kafis to music, from humble street-singers to renowned Sufi singers like the Waddali Brothers and Abida Parveen, from the synthesized techno qawwali remixes of UK-based Asian artists to the rock band Junoon. Bulleh Shah’s popularity stretches uniformly across Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, to the point that much of the written material about this Muslim thinker is from Hindu and Sikh authors.Read More....

Bhai Gurdas

As we cannot think of Rama without Hanuman, of Krishna without Arjan, of Buddha without Ananda, of Jesus Christ without St. Paul so we cannot separate Guru Arjan from Bhai Gurdas. One was the spring, the other was the stream to carry spring waters. Bhai Gurdas. remained in close association with third, fourth, fifth and sixth Gurus from 1579 to 1637 for 58 years. Bhai Gurdas is one of the most eminent personalities in the history of Sikh religion. He was a brilliant scholar and poet and rendered im­perishable service to Sikhism. He was so much devoted to his cause-that he never married. His humility was so great that though he-wrote the Adi Granth at the dictation of Guru Arjan, and included therein sayings of many Hindu and Muslim saints, and was the Guru's maternal uncle, yet he declined to include in it his own compositions-which were of a high order, for the simple reason that he did not like to raise himself to the position of bhaktas. Guru Amar Das's father was Tej Bhan. Tej Bhan's brother was Chandra Bhan. His son was Ishwar Das. Bhai Gurdas was his son. His mother was Jiwani. Thus Gurdas was a nephew of Guru Amar Das.
He was born in 1551 AD, twelve years after Guru Nanak's death. He was thus the first cousin of Bibi Bhani, daughter of Guru Amar Das, wife of Guru Ram Das and mother of Guru Arjan. His parents belonged to village Basarke, but they migrated to Goindwal, the head­quarters of Guru Amar Das. It was here that Gurdas took birth. His parents had embraced Sikh religion. As a child Gurdas attended sangats or congregations. He possessed a sweet and melodious voice,-and enthusiastically participated in singing hymns. He developed great love and affection for the Gurus' teachings. He picked up Gurmukhi and learnt by heart Gurbani or the Gurus' hymns, prayers, and chants. He seldom missed any divine service. In 1567 Guru Amar Das got a baoli or a well with stairs dug up at Goindwal. On the Baisakhi day a great fair was held there which was attended by all the Sikhs. Gurdas as a lad of sixteen served in this festival and entertained the congregations with his songs and recitations. Guru Amar Das had established twenty-two manjis or dioceses each under a sangatia. The most important and distant diocese at Agra, then capital of the Mughal Empire in India, was assigned to him. At this time Akbar was the Emperor. Hindi and Sanskrit were flourishing. Goswami Tulsidas had just composed his immortal Ramayana called Ramcharitmanas. The most celebrated musician Tansen was living at Akbar's court. Gurdas made the most of his opportunity. He learnt Brajbhasha, Sanskrit and many ragas or musical metres after the style of Tansen and composed poetry.
When Guru Ram Das started construction of Amritsar, he recalled Gurdas and employed him to look after the development of the new township by inviting people from the neighbourhood to settle there. On the nomination of Arjan, Guru Ram Das's eldest son, Prithi Mal, became hostile to his father and brother. His hostility reduced Guru Ram Das to great financia1 stringency so much so that the Guru's wife, Bibi Bhani, lived on gram flour. This touched Gurdas's heart and he brought back Bhai Budha from the jungle of Basarke to Amrit­sar to give consolation to the Guru's family.
In 1596 AD, Guru Arjan decided to compile the Holy Granth. He deputed Gurdas to many Sikhs to collect Gurbani. Then he was sent to Mohan, son of Guru Amar Das, at Goindwal to bring the collection of Guru's hymns from him. Guru Arjan addressed Bhai Gurdas as 'Mamaji' or maternal uncle. There being no better scholar than Gurdas among the Sikhs, the Guru entrusted to him the duty of writing the Granth at his dictation. Guru Arjan selected a beautiful site two kilometres to the east of the holy tank in the grove of Beri (Zizyphus Jajuba) trees on the bank of a pond now called Ramsar. There he put up a small tent. The Guru sat on a cot inside and Bhai Gurdas outside. The dictation continued from sunrise for 4 to 5 hours daily. Gurdas simplified the Gurmukhi style at the bidding of Guru Arjan,1 and he wrote the Granth in the modified script. When the sayings of bhaktas had been included in the Granth, the Guru asked Bhai Gurdas to insert his own Vars and Kabits also. Bhaiji declined saying that he had not attained that degree of perfection in devotion to God. The Granth was completed in 1604 AD. In 1605 Emperor Akbar on a visit to Lahore stayed at Batala. Prithi Mal with the help of local Mughal officials complained to the Emperor against Guru Arjan saying that he had abused Hinduism and Islam therein. The Emperor called for the Granth. It was sent under custody of Bhai Budha and Bhai Gurdas. Akbar asked Bhai Gurdas to read at a certain place. At the first place it said: Khak nur karand alam duniyai [God reduces worldly pedagogues to dust] The Emperor pointed to a hymn on another page. It stated: Allah agam Khudai bande [God is eternal and men are his creation] Akbar now asked his clerk, Munshi Sarb Dayal, who knew Gurmukhi, to read the Granth from another place. It said: Koi bole Ram Ram koi Khuda [Some call Him Ram, others Khuda.] The Emperor was pleased. He made an offering of 51 gold mohars to the Granth, and awarded robes of honour to its two bearers with another khilat for the Guru. Guru Hargobind became Guru in 1606 AD. The tilak of succession was applied by Bhai Budha who adorned the Guru with two swords of Miri and Pin. The Holy Granth was recited by Bhai Gurdas. When the Guru was imprisoned in the fort of Gwalior, Mata Ganga, the Guru's mother, sent Bhai Gurdas there to bring news about Hargobind. Afterwards he was sent by the Guru to Afghanistan to purchase horses. On the death of Bhai Budha, the office of the head priest of Han Mandar was bestowed upon him. By natural temperament and training Bhai Gurdas was a man of peace. He did not much appreciate Guru Hargobind's militarist acti­vities. He perhaps believed in co-operation with the Mughal Emperors. in a Var he represented people's views about the Guru's activities. He says that they did not approve of his wanderings, wars with Emperors and not devoting full attention to his religious duties. As the Guru was most popular with his Sikhs who were ready to lay down their lives for him voluntarily, Bhai Gurdas concluded his account thus: "I say the truth which cannot possibly be concealed ; the true Sikhs, like the humble bees, are enamoured of his lotus-feet." "He supporteth a burden intolerable to others and asserteth not himself." Bhai Gurdas composed thirtynine Vars and 556 Kabits. In Vars I and XI he gives a short account of Guru Nanak. In Kabit no.345 he tells us that Guru Nanak obtained divine light about his mission in life on Kartik full moon day: Kartik masi rut sarad puranmashi ath jam sath ghari aj ten ban hai. [It is the month of Kartik, weather is cool, full moon day of eight jams (24 hours), sixty gharis (24 hours) (is over); it is your turn today (to obtain divine knowledge). About mixing people of all castes and creeds in sangats and pangats on the basis of social equality Bhai Gurdas has given a fine example. A green betel leaf with a coating of white lime and brown katha, when chewed produces a bright red colour giving fragrance to breath and beauty to lips. Similarly the Guru's teachings dissolved all caste differ­ences and produced a homogeneous society of the Sikhs. Bhai Gurdas further says: Do good even to bad people like the tree that gives fruit even to those who throw stones at it. Gurdas praises such persons as sacri­fice for others and who are happy by serving others. Bhai Gurdas, who never married, died on Bhadon suds 5,1693 13k/25 August 1636 in Goindwal at the age of 86. He mentions Mardana, Daulat Khan Lodi and others, but there is no reference to Bhai Bala. The house of Bhai Gurdas containing a well and his smadhi were situated behind the residence of Guru Hargobind at Amritsar.

Avtar Singh Sandhu

Pash was the pen name of Avtar Singh Sandhu (September 9, 1950 - March 23, 1988), an Indian poet. His strongly left-wing views were reflected in his poetry.

Biography:

He was born in Talwandi Salem, Jalandhar, Punjab, growing up in the struggle between the Naxalite movement and working class, poverty-stricken Punjabs, during the so-called Jujharu (rebellious era). He published his first book of revolutionary poems, Loh-Katha (Iron Tale) in 1970; his militant and provocative tone raised the ire of the establishment and a murder charge was hastily brought against him. He spent nearly two years in jail, before being finally acquitted. On acquittal, he became involved in Punjab's maoist front, editing a literary magazine, Siarh (The Plow Line). He became a popular political figure on the left during this period, and was awarded a fellowship at the Punjabi Academy of Letters in 1985. He toured the United Kingdom and the United States the following year; while in the U.S., he became involved with the Anti-47 Front, opposing Sikh nationalist violence; in retribution, he was murdered at the hands by a Sikh group in 1988.

Literary works:

Loh-katha (Iron-Tale) (1970), Uddian Bazan Magar (Behind Flying Hawks) (1973), Saadey Samiyaan Vich (In Our Times) (1978), and Khilre Hoey Varkey (Unorganized Papers (1989)) Khilre Hoey Varkey was posthumously published in 1989 after his death, followed by his journals and letters. A selection of his poems in Punjabi, Inkar, was published in Lahore in 1997. His poems have been translated in many languages including other Indian languages, Nepali and English.

Quotes about Pash:

"The best known name in the Left and progressive movements in modern Punjabi literature, Pash followed an old Punjabi tradition of fighting against oppression and it was almost as if he was a reincarnation of one of the renowned Punjabi freedom fighters.""He took the banner of the Naxalite movement to actively participate in radical politics that landed him in jail for a couple of years on a trumped up murder charge, and finally got him brutally murdered in broad daylight at the age of 38." "The intensity of his passion gave some of the best revolutionary poetry to modern Punjabi literature and an alternative to the romantic poetry of Shiv Kumar Batalvi, whom he had admired as a teenager and then challenged by confronting him personally and in writing, creating a fascinating legend of the clash of two major schools of thoughts of Punjabi poetry.""Paash, a famous revolutionary cultural poet combated communal terrorism through the anti-47 Front. Paash fought till the last breadth against the terrorists, till he fell to their bullets in Jalandhar in 1988." Samartha Vashishtha says in his essay "Politics in Poetry"--"I'd perhaps have accepted the logic put forward by the veteran writer without doubt, had I not spotted earlier a glaring paradox right in his camp. I translate below part of the prefatory note that Paash (1950-1989), one of the leading poets of the Jujharu (rebel) era of Punjabi poetry; and arguably one of the finest poets (pro-people, should I say?) of the 20th Century, wrote for his third book of poems Saade Samiyaan Vich (In Our Times), 1978: "Of those whose poetry has influenced me the most, Kamala Das is still alive. Kalidas left for heaven long back. As for now, I would like to thank Kamala Das. Neruda and Nazim belong to our own camp. So no need to thank them at all." "Because when they strike it can be that quick that if they're within range, you're dead, you're dead in your tracks. And his head weighs more than my body so it's WHACK!" - Steve Irwin.

Poems:

Mainu Chahiday Han Kujh Bol

Two and Two Three

The Most Dangerous

Commitment

No, I Am Not Losing My Sleep

The Most Dangerous Thing

Everyone Doesn't Have The Propensity To Dream

After emergency was imposed

In a meeting of mourning

Amrita Pritam

Amrita Pritam (August 31, 1919 – October 31, 2005) was an Indian writer. She is considered the first prominent woman Punjabi poet, novelist, and essayist. When the former British India was partitioned into the independent states of India and Pakistan, she migrated to India in 1947.
Formative Years:
Amrita Pritam was born in 1919 in Gujranwala, Punjab, now in Pakistan, the only child of a school teacher and a poet. Her father was a pracharak -- a preacher of the Sikh faith. Amrita's mother died when she was eleven. Soon after, she and her father moved to Lahore. Confronting adult responsibilities, she began to write at an early age. Her first collection was published when she was only sixteen years old, the year she married Pritam Singh, an editor to whom she was engaged in early childhood.
Partition:
Some one million Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs died from communal violence that followed the partition of India in 1947. Amrita Pritam moved to New Delhi, where she began to write in Hindi instead of Punjabi, her mother tongue. Her anguish was expressed in her poem, "Aaj Aakhaan Waris Shah Noo", addressed to the Sufi poet Waris Shah, author of the tragic saga of Heer and Ranjah, the Punjabi national epic: Utth dard-mandaan dey dardiyaa tak apna Punjab Beyley laashaan vichhiyaan Teh lahoo da bharya Chenab (Sharer of stricken hearts, Look at your Punjab, Corpses are strewn in the field Blood flows in the Chenab.) Amrita Pritam worked until 1961 for All India Radio. After her divorce in 1960, her work became more clearly feminist. Many of her stories and poems drew on the unhappy experience of her marriage. A number of her works have been translated into English, French, Japanese and other languages from Punjabi and Urdu, including her autobiographical works Black Rose and Revenue Stamp (Raseedi Tikkat in Punjabi). The first of Amrita Pritam's books to be filmed was Daaku (Dacoit, 1976), directed by Basu Bhattacharya. Her novel Pinjar (The Skeleton, 1970) was made into an award winning Hindi movie by Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, because of its humanism: "Amritaji has portrayed the suffering of people of both the countries." Pinjar was shot in a border region of Rajasthan and in Punjab.
Acclaim:
The first woman recipient of the Sahitya Akademi ward in 1956 for Sunehe (Messages), Amrita Pritam received the Bhartiya Jnanpith, India's highest literary award, in 1982 for Kagaj te Canvas (Paper and Canvas). She received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, as well. She received D Litt degrees, honoris causa, from Delhi, Jabalpur and Vishva Bharti Universities. Amrita Pritam lived the last forty years of her life with the renowned artist, Imroz. She died on 31st October 2005 at the age of 86, after a long illness, survived by her daughter, Kundala; her son, Navraj; and her grandson, Aman. Her story cannot be completed without the name of Sahir.
Awards&Honours:
Sahitya Akademi Award (1956) Padmashri (1969) Delhi University confers its D. Litt. (1973) Jabalpur Uniersity confers its D. Litt. (1973) International Vaptsarove Award by the Republic of Bulgaria (1979) Bharatiya Jnanpith (1981) Vishwa Bharati, Shantiniketan, confers its D. Litt.(1987) Degree of Officer dens/order des arts et des letters by the French Government (1987)
Works:

Famous Punjabi Writers

Famous Punjabi Writer

• Amrita Pritam
• Avtar Singh Sandhu(Pash)
• Bhai Gurdas
• Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha
• Bhai Vir Singh
• Bulleh Shah
• Dhani Ram Chatrik
• Jaswant Neki
• Mian Muhammad Bakhsh
• Shah Mohammad
• Shardha Ram Phillauri
• Shiv Kumar Batalvi
• Waris Shah           

Banda Singh Bahadur

Banda Singh Bahadur
	Lachhman Dev alias Madho dass Bairagi alias Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (pronounce like this: Banda- "Bun-tha", Bahadur- "Bah-Ha-'th'ur" {'th' pronounced as 'th' in 'the'}), of Jammu region, is revered as one of greatest warriors as well as one of its most hallowed martyrs of the Khalsa Army who were fighting against the cruel Mughal-Muslim rule and their tyranny. His confrontation with the Mughal-muslim administration in Northern India, though brief, was strong enough to shake its foundations. The agrarian uprising that he led in the Punjab was the foundation on which the Dal Khalsa, the Sikh Misls and Maharaja Ranjit Singh built the edifice which finally culminated with Ranjit Singh capturing Lahore in 1799 and establishing the Sikh Kingdom of the Punjab.
Early life Banda was born in a Minhas Rajput family on October 16, 1670 at Rajouri in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. He was named Lachman Dev. Wrestling, horseback riding, and hunting were his major hobbies. As a young man, he shot a doe and was shocked to watch the mother and her aborted fawn writhing in pain and dying. After this gloomy scene, he had a change of heart. He left his home and became a disciple of a Bairagi Sadhu, Janaki Das, who gave him the name, Madho Das. In the company of the Sadhus he travelled through Northern India and finally arrived at Nanded (in present-day Maharashtra), situated on the bank of the river Godavari, where he built a hut to meditate upon God.
Madho Das meets Guru Gobind Singh In the September of 1708, Guru Gobind Singh, who had come to the Deccan along with the Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah, happened to go to Madho Das’ hut while hunting. Madho Das was away. The Guru ordered his disciples to prepare food, so one of Madho's goats, was slaughtered and cooked at Madho's hut, there and then. On returning Madho, a vegitarian was outraged, as a Hindu he felt his his camp had been defiled. He had learnt Tantra and was locally famous for his occult powers. He attempted to conjure his magic to humiliate the Guru,but his magic could not prevail on Guru Gobind. Defeated he fell at the Guru's feet and said with great humility, "Let me be called banda (slave)." The Guru inquired, if Madho knew who he was talking to. Banda said "you are no other than Guru Gobind Singh". The Guru soon gave Banda the title of Bahadhur. Becoming one of the the Guru's lions (Singh) he took up the duties of a saint-soldier a true warrior in the fight against tyranny. Banda was baptized and converted into the Sikh fold, and was given the name Gurbax Singh. He is popularly known as "Banda Singh Bahadhur".
Banda's Mission Guru Gobind Singh hoped that Emperor Bahadur Shah would fulfill his promise and punish the Governor of Sirhind, Nawab Wazir Khan and his accomplices for persecuting the people of Punjab, and for murdering the Guru's mother, Mata Gujri and his two younger children, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh. The promise was made by Bahadur Shah to the Guru earlier, when Shah asked the Guru to help him consolidate his rule over India, following the death of his father, Emperor Arungzeb. Guru Gobind was intrumental in helping Shah defeat his brothers, who were fighting for the treasured throne of the Mughal Empire. Bahadur Shah was reluctant to carry out his promise, or may have been unable to do so during his delicate rule. The Guru had no ill-will towards the new Emperor, and decided to train Bunda Bahadur personally, so that he could help free the enslaved people of Punjab, who were being persecuted by Wazir Khan. In a few days, the Guru held a durbar, baptised Madho Das and conferred the title of Banda Singh Bahadur on him. He appointed him as his military lieutenant and invested him with full political and military authority as his deputy to lead the campaign in the Punjab against the Mughal administration and to punish Nawab Wazir Khan and his supporters. Banda was supplied with five gold tipped arrow and a nagada (drum) as symbols of temporal authority. He was given an advisory council of five devoted Sikhs (Hazuri Singhs), who on their arrival in the Punjab were to assure the Sikhs that Banda was the Guru's nominee and deputy and to organize them in order to lead an expedition against Sirhind: Baj Singh, a descendant of the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das. Baj Singh's brother Ram Singh. Binod singh, a descendant of the second Sikh Guru, Guru Angad Dev. Binod Singh's son Kahan singh Fateh Singh.  Read More....

Maghi

Introduction Maghi is the occassion when Sikhs commemorate the sacrifice of forty Sikhs, who fought for Guru Gobindh Singh Ji. Maghi falls on the 13th January, 2005, worldwide. Significance The day of Maghi is observed to honour the heroic fight of the Chali Mukte, or the Forty Liberated Ones, who sacrificed their own lives defending an attack by the imperial army marching in pursuit of Guru Gobind Singh. The action took place near a pool of water, Khidrane di Dhab, on 29 December 1705.

Celebration Sikhs celebrate the Maghi with an end to end recital of the holy Guru Granth Sahib and religious rituals in all the Sikh Gurudwaras. On the eve of Maghi falls the common Indian festival called the Lohri when bonfires are lighted in Hindu homes and alms are also distributed. . however The largest assembly, however, takes place at Muktsar (Punjab) where big fairs are organized and pilgrims take a holy dip in the sacred waters of sarovar and also visit several shrines. A mahala or big march of pilgrims from the main shrine to gurdwara Tibbi Sahib, sacred to Guru Gobind Singh, concludes the three-day celebration.

Lohri

Lohri, is celebrated every year on 13th of January. It is a festival to worship fire. Lohri Festival is celebrated with great pomp in North India. At this time Earth starts moving towards the sun marking the auspicious period of Uttarayan. First Lohri is very important for the newly wed and the new born babies as it marks fertility. At night, people gather around the bonfire and throw til, puffed rice & popcorns into the flames of the bonfire.
Prayers are offered to the bonfire seeking abundance & prosperity. People make merry by dancing & singing traditional folk songs.
Lohri Festival Lohri festival is an annual thanksgiving day and an extremely popular harvest festival in India, epscially Northern India. Come January, and the fields of Punjab are filled with the golden harvest of wheat and farmers celebrate Lohri during this rest period before the cutting and gathering of crops. Time of Lohri According to the Hindu calendar, Lohri falls in mid-January (13th January). The earth, farthest from the sun at this point of time, starts its journey towards the sun, thus ending the coldest month of the year and announcing the start of the summer season.
Lohri Celebrations
	While Lohri is essentially a Punjab festival, it is celebrated in some other states of North India as well. In cities like Delhi, which have a predominant Punjabi population, Lohri is celebrated to denote the last of the coldest days of winter. Apart from Punjab, people from other northern Indian states of Haryana, Delhi and parts of Himachal Pradesh, become busy making preparations for Lohri. For them, Lohri is an appropriate occasion to come out of their homes and celebrate the harvesting of the Rabi (winter) crops and give in to relaxing and enjoying the traditional folk songs and dances.
In houses that have recently seen pleasant happenings such as a marriage or childbirth, Lohri celebrations will reach a higher pitch of excitement. Punjabis usually have private Lohri celebrations, in their respective houses. Lohri rituals are performed, with the accompaniment of special Lohri songs. A bonfire is made and a prayer is performed to Agni, the god of Fire, and Prasad is distributed to all present. The prasad comprises of five main things - til, gazak, gur, moongphali (peanuts) and phuliya or popcorn. Milk and water are also poured around the bonfire. This ritual is performed for thanking the Sun God and seeking his continued protection. Singing and dancing form an intrinsic part of the celebrations. People wear their brightest clothes and come to dance the bhangra and gidda to the beat of the dhol. Punjabi songs are sung, and everybody rejoices. Sarson ka saag and makki ki roti is usually served as the main course at a Lohri dinner. Lohri is a great occasion that does not hold importance for farmers alone but also to those people residing in the urban area, as this festival provide the opportunity to interact with family and friends. Thus, Lohri is a socially significant festival for one and all. Lohri Celebrations in other Parts of India Lohri is celebrated throughout the country in different forms, as a harvest festival. It is called Pongal in the South, Bhugali Bihu in Assam, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh and Sankranti in the central part of the country. Though modes of celebrating Lohri in India are different, but the message conveyed by the festival, that of setting aside differences and rejoicing by celebrating the end of the harvest season and the chilly winter is the same everywhere.
Origin of Lohri
The origin of the Lohri can be traced back to the tale of Dulla Bhatti. By the end of the first week of January, small groups of boys ring the doorbell of houses and start chanting the Lohri songs related to Dulla Bhatti. In turn, the people give them popcorn, peanuts, crystal sugar, sesame seeds (til) or gur as well as money. Turning them back empty-handed is regarded inauspicious.
Lohri marks the end of winter on the last day of Paush, and beginning of Magha (around January 12 and 13), when the sun changes its course. It is associated with the worship of the sun and fire and is observed by all communities with different names, as Lohri is an exclusively Punjabi festival. The questions like When it began and why is lost in the mists of antiquity. The origin of Lohri is related to the central character of most Lohri songs is Dulla Bhatti, a Muslim highway robber who lived in Punjab during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Besides robbing the rich, he rescued Hindu girls being forcibly taken to be sold in slave market of the Middle East. He arranged their marriages to Hindu boys with Hindu rituals and provided them with dowries. Understandably, though a bandit, he became a hero of all Punjabis. So every other Lohri song has words to express gratitude to Dulla Bhatti.

Diwali

Diwali, also called Deepavali, is a major Indian festival that is very significant in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Known as the "Festival of Lights," it symbolises the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for humankind. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional dīpa or deeya (earthen lamp, as illustrated). Fireworks are associated with the festival. Diwali is a colloquial name used in North India, while the festival is formally called Deepavali in South India.
	Diwali is celebrated for three consecutive days at the end of Hindu month of Ashwayuja. It usually occurs in October/November, and is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited festivals in India. Diwali comes exactly twenty days after Dussehra. Hindus and Sikhs alike regard it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social relationships. For Hindus it is one of the most important festivals, and beginning of the year in some Hindu calendars. There are several beliefs regarding the origin of the holiday. The most repeated version is that Hindus celebrate Diwali to mark the time when Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana. Some also view it as the day Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura or in honor of the day Bali went to rule the nether-world, obeying the order of Vishnu. It is also a significant festival for the Sikh faith. In India, Diwali is now considered to be more of a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith.
Dates in various calendars: The festival is celebrated for a differing number of days by different communities. In Maharashtra and Karnataka, the celebrations start from Vasubaras, 12th day of the second fortnight of Ashvin (going on for 6 days) while in Northern India the celebrations start from Laxmi Puja the no moon day of the same month (going on for 2-3 days). Though the core days are common and fall on exactly the same set of days across India, they fall in different months depending on the version of the Hindu calendar being used in the given region. The Amanta ("ending on the no-moon") version of the Hindu Calendar has been adopted as the Indian national calendar. According to this calendar, which is prevalent in southern India and Maharashtra, the 6-day celebration is spread over the last four days of the month of Ashwayuja and the first two days of the new month of Kartika. According to the Purnimanta ("ending on the full-moon") version prevalent in northern India, it falls in the middle of the month of Ashwayuja/Ashvin. In the Gregorian calendar, it falls generally in the months of October or November. In 2006, it was celebrated on October 21 (Saturday).
Significance in Hinduism: The festival marks the victory of good over evil. The Sanskrit word Deepavali means an array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. As the knowledge of Sanskrit diminished, the name was popularly modified to Diwali, especially in northern India. In South India, Diwali does not coincide with the beginning of a new year as South Indians follow a different calendar, the Shalivahana calendar. On the day of Diwali, many wear new clothes, share sweets and snacks, and light firecrackers. Some North Indian business communities start their financial year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day. Hindus find cause to celebrate this festival for different reasons: It commemorates the killing of Narakasura, an evil demon who created havoc, by Lord Krishna's wife Satyabhama. This happened in the Dwapara Yuga during this time of Lord Krishna's avatar. In another version, the demon was killed by Lord Krishna himself. Before Narakasura's death, he requested a boon from his mother, Satyabhama (believed to be an Avatar of Bhudevi - Narakasura' mother), that everyone should celebrate his death with colorful light.
According to the Skanda Purana, the goddess Shakti observed 21 days of austerity starting from ashtami of shukla paksha (eighth day of the waxing period of moon) to get half of the body of Lord Shiva. This vrata (austerity) is known as kedhara vrata. Deepavali is the completion day of this austerity. This is the day Lord Shiva accepted Shakti into the left half of the form and appeared as Ardhanarishvara. The ardent devotees observe this 21 days vrata by making a kalasha with 21 threads on it and 21 types of offerings for 35 days. The final day is celebrated as kedhara gauri vrata.
Diwali also celebrates the return of Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya from a war in which he killed the demon king Ravana. It is believed that the people lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness. This is the reason, why the festival is celebrated a day earlier in South India since Lord Rama travelled from the south to his kingdom in the north. In North India, the festival is held on the final day of the Vikram calendar. The following day marks the beginning of the North Indian new year, and is called Annakut. Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali. It is the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra, the deity of thunder and rain. As per the story, Krishna saw huge preparations for the annual offering to Lord Indra and questions his father Nanda about it. Why was this necessary? Why should human beings offer anything to some unknown being in the sky? He debated with the villagers about what their 'dharma' truly was. They were farmers, they should do their duty and concentrate on farming and protection of their cattle. He continued to say that all human beings should merely do their 'karma', to the best of their ability and not pray for natural phenomenon. The villagers were convinced by Krishna, and did not proceed with the special puja (prayer). Indra was then angered, and flooded the village. Krishna then lifted Mt Govardhan and held it up as protection to his people and cattle from the rain. Indra finally accepted defeat and recognized Krishna as supreme. This aspect of Krishna's life is mostly glossed over - but it actually set up the basis of the 'karma' philosophy later detailed in the Bhagavat Gita. In Bhavishyottara and Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Diwali is associated with the Daitya king Bali, who is allowed to return to earth once a year. However in Kerala this is the reason 'Onam' is celebrated. 'Onam' festival falls around the month of August-September.Read more....

Gurudwaras at Anandpur Sahib

Anandpur Sahib is a city and a municipal council in Rupnagar district in the state of Punjab, India. Known as "the holy City of Bliss," it is a holy city of the Sikhs and is one of their most important sacred places, closely linked with their religious traditions and history. It is located on the lower spurs of the Himalayas surrounded by picturesque natural scenery, with the river Sutlej forming a shimmering and shiny blue border on the south west barely four miles away. So far as the historical significance of Anandpur Sahib is concerned, it is second only to Amritsar, the city of Golden Temple. Anandpur Sahib was founded in the year 1665 by the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, near the ruins of an ancient place, Makhowal. The Guru purchased the site from the ruler of Bilaspur.

Demographics
As of 2001 India census,Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03. Anandpur Sahib had a population of 13,886. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Anandpur Sahib has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 56% of the males and 44% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Festivals
Anandpur Sahib comes to life every year on the occasion of Hola Mohalla. This tradition dates back to the times of the 10th Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh . The Guru decreed that the occasion of the festival of Holi be the occasion for the display of the martial spirit of his people and he gave this festival of Holi the Sikh name of 'Hola Mohalla'. Each year Hola Mohalla marks the congregation of upto 100,000 devotees from all over the country for a festival of colour and gaiety.

Baisakhi in 1999, at Anandpur Sahib marked the completion of 300 years of the birth of the Khalsa. It was on Baisakhi day in 1699 that Sri Guru Gobind Singh baptised the Panj Pyaras at the place where Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib stands.

Landmarks

• Gurudwara Guru-Ka-Mahal (Bhora Sahib): Residence of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th guru, which was inherited by Sri Guru Gobind Singh. The sahibzadas - the holy sons of the 10th Guru were born here. There is an underground room cut off from the din of life where the 9th Guru used to meditate.

• Gurudwara Thara Sahib: The 9th Guru used to deliver sermons from this Gurudwara. There is a marker to indicate the spot where the Kashmiri Brahmins came to seek protection. It was at this spot in 1675 that a delegation of 15 Kashmiri Brahamans led by Pandit Kirpa Ram had come to beseech the 9th Prophet to save them from the tyranny of the Mughals who were forcibly converting them to Islam. It was here that the Prophet had decided to embrace martyrdom to awaken the dead soul of India that of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

• Gurudwara Sheesh-Ganj Sahib: In November of 1675, the head of the martyred 9th Guru which was brought by Bhai Jaita ( Rechristened Bhai wan Singh according to Sikh rites) in defiance of the Mughal authorities was cremated here.

• Akal Bunga: After cremation of the holy head of his father, followed by a prayer to the Almighty, the 10th Guru had rested here with his relations and followers.

• Gurudwara Damdama Sahib: the 10th Guru was given the Guru Gaddi (seat of Sikh religious leadership), here. It was from here that he had declared the end of the institution of the Masands-the priestly agents of the former Gurus.

• Gurudwara Man Sahib: the Sahibzadas received their education and military training at this spot. Military exercises were also rehearsed here.

• Gurudwara Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib: In 1699, on the occasion of the festival of Baisakhi, Guru Nanak's mission was fulfilled by the 10th Guru when, through baptism of the double-edged-sword the Sikh was deemed as the Khalsa-Saint Soldier- in direct commune with the Guru and God. Still more astonishing is the fact that the Guru had got himself baptised by the Panj-Pyaras, the five beloved ones, who had offered him their heads to uphold Dharma - the moral duty and religion.

Sacred sites near Anandpur Sahib

• Guru-Ka-Lahore: (11 Kms from Anandpur Sahib) On 25th January,1686 the 10th Prophet was married to Mata Jito Ji here. Three springs of water which the 10th Prophet had lanced open from huge rocks are still flowing. Sandwiched between Sri Anandpur Sahib and Sri Kiratpur Sahib is CHAMKAUR SAHIB. It was in this area where , having sworn safe passage to the 10th Prophet's family and forces the Mughal and the hill Chiefs had treacherously attacked them. Gurudrawa Katal Garh Sahib commemorates the martyrdom of the two elder Sahibzadas and 37 Singhs who had died fighting here,Gurudrawa Pariwar Vichhora Sahib marks the site where the 10th Prophet's family got scattered. Gurudwaras GARHI SAHIB, TARRI SAHIB, RANJITGARH SAHIB are connected with the dharm yudh that the 10th Prophet had waged against the tyrants.

• Gurudwara Mata To : not far from Holgarh Fort, this Gurudwara was where Mata To was cremated.

• Bhai Ghanaiya : Bhai Ghanaiya offered first aid to friendly and enemy forces alike across the area spanning the now-almost dried up rivulet Charan Ganga and below the Taragarh hill. His unbiased service has been compared to the functions of the Red Cross.

• Sri Anandpur Sahib is revered as the bastion from where the stoutest defence was put up to maintain liberty from the slavery of the Mughals and allied leaders from the surrounding hills.

Gurudwara Manji Sahib, Amritsar

This gurdwara is dedicated to the fifth Guru, Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He composed the Sukhmani Sahib here. This gurdwara is located on the banks of the sarovar and across the sarovar is Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib where the Guru Granth Sahib was written.

Location
This gurdwara is located near Gurdwara Shahid Ganj Sahib, opposite to Gurdwara Ramsar, Chattiwind Gate, Amritsar.

The Secretary, Management Committee,
Gurdwara Manji Sahib,
Chattiwind Gate,
Chattiwind,
Amritsar 143001

Gurudwara Shish Mahal Sahib

Gurudwara Shish Mahal Sahib

 

The 6th Prophet had established his residence here. The 7th Prophet Sri Guru Har Rai Ji and the 8th Prophet Sri Guru Harkrishan Ji were born here.

Gurudwara Kiratpur Sahib

Kiratpur was established in 1627 by the 6th Prophet, Guru Hargobind Ji. The place is associated with the memory of a Muslim Saint, Pir Buddan Shah who was gifted with a very long life. It is situated on the bank of river Sutlej and is at a distance of about 10 km from Anandpur Sahib towards the south, on the Nangal-Rupnagar-Chandigarh road. It is sacred to the Sikhs and they immerse the ashes of their dead at this place. It has a long association with most of the Sikh Gurus. Guru Nanak Dev is said to have visited this place when it was little more than a wilderness. Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru spent the last few years of his life here. There are many Gurdwaras in Kiratpur like Gurdwara Bavangarh Gurdwara Pata Puri, etc

Gurudwara Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodi

This is the Gurudwara built at the place where the first prophet Guru Nanak got enlightenment and created Sukhmani Sahib while taking bath in the river Kali Bein.From Sultanpur lodi only the Guru Nanak started his famous journeys. Sultanpur Lodi in Kapurthala district is easily accessible from Jalandhar and Amritsar via Taran Taran and Goindwal Sahib. One can plan his visit from both Amritsar( around 60 km away) and Jalandhar (36 km away).

Dera Baba Nanak

Dera Baba Nanak is a city and a municipal council in Gurdaspur district in the state of Punjab, India.
Demographics As of 2001 India census, Dera Baba Nanak had a population of 7493. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Dera Baba Nanak has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78% and, female literacy is 72%. In Dera Baba Nanak, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Historical facts Two famous Gurudwara at Dera Baba Nanak are Sri Darbar Sahib and Sri Chola Sahib. Dera Baba Nanak, one of the most sacred places of the Sikhs, is situated on the banks of river Ravi. Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru, settled and died near the village Pakhoke, opposite to the present town and named it Kartarpur. The Bedis, descendants of Guru Nanak Dev built a new town and named it Dera Baba Nanak after their great ancestor. The town has a number of Sikh temples. Pilgrims come to this holy town in large numbers. Dera Baba Nanak was made the headquarter of newly created Tehsil of Dera Baba Nanak.
Bollywood Producer Bobby Bedi is a direct descendant of Guru Nanak Dev and has an ancestral home here. Gurudwara Sri Darbar Sahib was built in commemoration of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. He came here after his first Udasi (tour) on December 1515 AD to see the members of his family. His wife Mata Sulakhni and His two sons Baba Sri Chand and Baba Lakhmi Chand had come to stay here in their maternal home at Pakho-Ke-Randhawa, near Dera Baba Nanak, where Lala Mool Raj, father–in–law of Guru Nanak Dev was working as Patwari. At that time this village was situated across the river Ravi.