The stunning beauty of Golden Temple in the thin early morning fog combined with the hymn recitation on the loud speakers is a unique, ‘one of a kind’ spiritual experience. Celebrations are for a period of 3 days. During the first two days Akhand Paath (a non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, sikhs’ holy book) is held in all the gurdwaras. The day prior to the birthday, a procession is taken out on the streets. The procession carries the sikh flag called Nishan Sahib and the Paalki (Palanquin) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This is one of the cultural highlights of this festival. The Golden Temple procession includes singers, brass bands, ‘Gatka’ teams (martial artists) who display their swordsmanship and hundreds of devotees. The entire city of Amritsar is decorated & lit up and Harmandir Sahib itself is transformed into a heavenly abode. It is a wonderfully managed event - the streets and Golden Temple were kept absolutely spic and span by both, authorities and devotees. Drinking & smoking are strictly forbidden, not only inside Harmandir Sahib but also anywhere within the site.

1. Celebrate India – Guru Nanak Jayanti with Yatra.com
I have been to Harmandir Sahib, more popularly known as the Golden Temple in Amritsar,
countless times since childhood and every single time it reveals something new about itself or
helps me discover something new about myself. I marvel at its unparalleled beauty but more
importantly it’s the soul of the place that really puts my mind at ease. My last visit was during
Guru Nanak Jayanti and believe me, there is no better time to visit Golden Temple.
Guru Nanak Jayantialso known as
Gurupurab,is is celebrated to
honour the birth of Guru Nanak Dev,
founder of Sikhism. The festival is
celebrated on the full moon day, in
the month of Kartik (October,
November) as per the Hindu
calendar.
The stunning beauty of Golden
Temple in the thin early morning fog
combined with the hymn recitation
on the loud speakers is a unique,
‘one of a kind’ spiritual experience.
Celebrations are for a period of 3 days. During the first two days Akhand Paath (a non-stop
reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, sikhs’ holy book) is held in all the gurdwaras. The day prior to
the birthday, a procession is taken out on the streets. The procession carries the sikh flag called
Nishan Sahib and the Paalki (Palanquin) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This is one of the cultural
highlights of this festival. The Golden Temple procession includes singers, brass bands, ‘Gatka’
teams (martial artists) who display their swordsmanship and hundreds of devotees. The entire
city of Amritsar is decorated & lit up and Harmandir Sahib itself is transformed into a heavenly
abode. It is a wonderfully managed event - the streets and Golden Temple were kept absolutely
spic and span by both, authorities and devotees. Drinking & smoking are strictly forbidden, not
only inside Harmandir Sahib but also anywhere within the site.
The best place to observe and participate in the festivities and rituals is from within the Golden
Temple itself. The day of Gurupurab started with Asa-di-Var (morning hymns) and hymns from
the scriptures followed by Katha (exposition of the scripture). The rituals concluded with a huge
Langar(community lunch) at the gurudwara. However, the best part was that the meals were

2. free for all, like they always are around the
year in all gurudwaras around the world. I
was astonished to find that on weekends
and festivals over a lakh people are served
meals throughout the day. This is a striking
example of the service and devotion
showcased by the sikh community.
Amritsar is an extremely popular north
Indian city and has a lot of historical and
cultural significance. Apart from Golden
Temple the other star attractions are the Jalianwala Bagh and the Wagah(India-Pakistan)
Border. Jalianwala Bagh is the site of the massacre of freedom fighters that took place before
independence. It has now been converted into a memorial of historical significance. The Wagah
Border too, gets the people really fired up. Every evening a spectacular retreat ceremony called
“lowering the flags” is held. The heavy stomping of soldiers’ feet, the disciplined and
synchronized marching and the calling out of loud commands witness the ceremony, all make it
sodifficult to not be overwhelmed by the patriotic fervor. A couple of other places that I think
are worth the visit are The Durgiana Temple (a Hindu temple built on the model similar to that
of The Golden Temple) and The Mata Temple famous for its labyrinthine like caves.
Traditionally, women go there for pray and wish for an offspring.
Last but not the least, there is one more thing about Amritsar that is famous not only in India
but throughout the world - FOOD. Almost everytraditional dish is cooked in makhhan (butter),
malai or desi ghee. Some essential items that one should try while in Amritsar are kulche, chole-
puri, dal-makhani, halwa, jalebi and last but definitely not the least the famous AmritsariLassi
with lots of malai. Some famous joints where you find
these items are Kesardhaba, Bharavan the Dhaba,
Bansal sweets, Kulcha Land and Kanhaiya sweets.
Trust me, if you do not indulge your taste buds while
visitingAmritsar, you made that trip in vain.
Irrespective of what religious community you belong
to, do visit The Golden Temple at least once in your
life. Its doors are always open to all.
May the blessings of Baba Ji always be with you,

3. Wishing you all happy and safe travelling,
Until next time,
Ciao,
Joy
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