GURDWARA GURU NANAK DATAN SAHIB
Gurdwara Guru Nanak Datan Sahib stands on the bank of Mahanadi at Cuttack city, about 25 km from Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha. This holy Gurdwara is the momento of the visit of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the foremost Guru of Sikhs, to Odisha. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Datan Sahib is one of the most renowned, sacred place of Sikhs throughout the country. There is a legend of its existence here.
Guru Nanak Ji steps in Odisha in the year 1506 on the completion of his pilgrimage of Assam and Bengal. He took shelter in a small cottage. A mesmerist named Chetan Bharati was residing very close to the cottage. He was practicing witchcraft in an intention to mobilise Bhairavi. Guru Nanak's presence attracted the people of that locality and they turned his disciples and time came the numbers increased. Watching the situation, his heart full of jealousy and hatred, Chetan applied his witchcraft to divert the attention of the people from Guru Nanak. His trials were of no use.
Once Guru Nanak Dev Ji was in a deep meditation. At that very moment Chetan Bharati reached there to give him corporal punishment by breaking one of the branches of Sahada tree nearby. When Guruji opened his eyes, the branch fell on the ground and weeping piteously he touched the feet of Guruji with agony. By the influence of the kind advice of Guruji , Chetan turned into the adorer of almighty God and became his disciple.
Once in the early morning Chetan offered one of the branches of the Sahada tree to Guruji to brush his teeth. Guru Nanak used one part of that branch and threw the rest on the ground which grew into a huge tree. The same tree perished in 1930. Prof Pranakrishna Parija and Prof. Baba Kartar Singh, the two eminent scientists, examined the tree and declared that the tree was of that period. Another tree took birth from the root of the same tree which is now esteemed by the Sikhs to recall the memory of Guru Nanak. In order to construct a Gurdwara, Prof. Parija and Prof. Singh collected donation from the Sangat and their dreams became fruitful when the building got a new shape. Guru Granth Sahib was brought to the Gurdwara in 1935. A new building has been constructed in 1988. Guru Granth Sahib is now in the first floor of the double storeyed building.
Gurdwara Guru Nanak Datan Sahib opens at 4 am and closes at 10 pm daily. Guru Granth Sahib is brought to the meditation room at 4 am. Katha Kirtan and mass prayer is arranged during this time. Distribution of Prasad among the people assembled in the campus is a must.One decorative wooden Palki is there to recite Guru Granth Sahib daily. At the time of closing,Guru Granth Sahib is respectfully taken to its own room "Sachkhand". One piece of Sahada tree (Datan Sahib) has been preserved inside a glass show case in front of Palki and a beautiful model of the Golden temple on the other side.
Gurdwara is opened to any person, irrespective of cast, creed, race, colour, status, sex, place of birth and nationality. As per the tradition of Gurdwara any person wearing Pagdi or handkerchief in the absence of Pagdi, or tying a piece of cloth supplied by Gurdwara temporarily, can enter into the Gurdwara. There is access of ladies to Gurdwara having head cover. Large number of devotees gather here on Sundays. All the Sikhs pay homage to Sahada tree on every first Sunday of the month. Langar is arranged for all, inside the large hall of the ground floor. All the devotees present in the campus of Gurdwara have langar on Sunday.
Guru Nanak's birthday is the main Gurpurb celebrated here in the month of November. All the devotees gladly take part in the recitation of Guru Granth Sahib and observe the Gurpurb. Religious activities and different competitions are organized by the committee.Sangat celebrates the commemoration of Guru Arjun Dev Ji, the fifth Guru; Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru every year. Prakash Purb of Guru Gobind Singh is celebrated during the month of December/January. The most attractive festival of this Gurdwara is Baisakhi. Kirtan Jathas from different parts of the country take part in this Gurpurb.
Gurdwara Guru Nanak Datan Sahib is privileged to have the Head Office of Orissa Sikh Pratinidhi Board in its campus. It also runs Guru Nanak Public School, which imparts education to all, without any discrimination of caste, creed and colour. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Datan Sahib has extended its glory and admiration within a little span of its existence.
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