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Illegal Construction threatens Pak Gurudwara
 The
Gurdwara Kotha Sahib Cheveen Patshahi in Wazirabad (Pakistan) is
virtually under an assault as illegal construction is currently on
just cheek-by-jowl to the gurdwara, spoiling its architectural
beauty and hurting Sikh sentiments across the world.
Sikhs have often taken up the issue of better upkeep of their
gurdwaras and historical places with the Pakistan government and the
response has been frequently positive. It seems the community will
have to now again beseech the Pakistan authorities to intervene in
this matter and save the miscreants from carrying out such illegal
construction.
Wazirabad is a leading tehsil town of Gujranwala district and Kotha
Sahib (also known as Guru Kotha), the sacred place named after the
sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, is located in this town. On his
way back from Kashmir, he stayed at the house of one of his devotees
by the name of Bhai Khem Chand Ji. A Gurdwara Sahib was built here
later. Once it was a beautiful building but its major portion has
collapsed now and premises is occupied by refugees. At least 13
acres of agricultural land is endowed in the name of Gurdwara. At
one stage, it was endowed with over 100 acres of land during the
time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. A large and beautiful water tank adds
to the scenic beauty of the Gurdwara.
Its architecture is peculiar. Its three-storeys on a high plinth
have similar dimension but each has a different design. The
rectangular ground floor has only one entrance and no windows. The
first floor has three windows on the façade; the width of the
central one is three times that of the one on either side of it. The
room has also a window each on the side walls. It has a dented
cornice. The second floor consists of three domed rooms, the central
one is slightly bigger than the others but its dome is much bigger
and sits on a tower-like base. Before 1947, Basant Panchmi (Janaury-February)
and Divali (October-November) used to be celebrated here.
Now a mini Vaisakhi fair is arranged by the Muslims of the town.
6 June, 2007
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