Gurdwara Sri Singh Sabha Model Town, Jalandhar

In Jalandhar city, the most important non historical Gurdwara is situated at Model Town. This is also one of the oldest Gurdwaras. It has attained its importance because of the unique activities attached to it. It not only attracts considerable Sangat, but has also an attached school Sri Guru Amar Das Public School which is one of the best schools in the town. Further a multimedia museum relating to Sikh religion has been added to this Gurdwara. This multimedia museum named as Guru Amar Das multimedia Sikh museum is equipped with 3-touch LCDs screens, a Plasma TV an OHP and paintings based on various anecdotes from Sikhism. Like the Khadur Sahib multimedia museum, this museum too has been designed by late Dr. Raghbir Singh Bains of Canada. As per the report appearing in Tribune, the museum is loaded with a 50,000 page Encyclopaedia “with touch screen buttons attached, the visitors can scroll into relevant pages for viewing and listening to “ardas,” sacred hymns recited by 60 renowned “ragi jathas, dhadis” and the whole of Guru Granth Sahib with its English translation and a glossary of words scripted in the “Banis”. A section that is even more informative is the one that gives a complete chronology on Sikh history, life and teachings of Sikh Gurus, Gurdwaras, other Sikh shrines, including Takhts, five kakkars, animated blood dripping of Sikh martyrs and their importance, pictorially. The encyclopaedia can also help students learn Punjabi, while checking their knowledge related to Sikhism, in the form of a quiz. In fact, viewing “ardas” on the monitor gives an altogether different experience as illustrations of Gurus, kakkars, takhats and Sri Sahib come all along the screen as their mention comes in the recitation. Another major attraction of the museum is the paintings that have been prepared by three artists. A Phagwara-based artist and illustrator, Gurdish, has come up with three paintings. One of these portrays the scene when Guru Arjan Dev was tortured and made to sit on hot plate (tatti tavi). Another one is Guru Nanak viewing the “brahmand” (solar circle) before he penned Aarti “Gagan mein thal” and still another depicts the scene in which Guru Amar Dass carries a “gagar” (pot) full of water for the purpose of the bathing of his predecessor Guru Angad Dev. The other two painters whose works have been put up in the museum are Sukhjinder Singh, a local artist, and Harish Vishwakarma from Kerala.” Some of the other important Gurdwaras in Jalandhar include Gurdwara Sri Patshahi Chevin Sahib, Gurdwara Nauvi Patshahi and Gurdwara Nanak Mission. The first Gurdwara is claimed to be historical and is associated with the visit of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib. This Gurdwara is located in village Basti Sheikh where Guru Ji granted an audience to a Muslim Holy Saint popularly known as Sheikh Darvesh and discussed spiritual matters with him. As the history of this Gurdwara is not accepted by a religious group and as such the Gurdwara is not managed by SGPC. The local sangat had constructed the Gurdwara keeping in view this historical position and a managing committee headed by S. Beant Singh Sarhadi (M: 9815690153) now looks after this Gurdwara. The Gurdwara named after the Nauvi Patshahi, situated at Guru Teg Bahadar Nagar is visited by a large number of devotees. Apart from the daily maryada, the Gurdwara also offers various activities like Turban Tying Coaching Centre, Training in Gatka, Shudh Gurbani Ucharan and Punjabi Teaching. They provide ambulance for the sick people and also make available a special air-conditioned van to carry Sri Guru Granth Sahib to anybody’s house on various occasions. Gurdwara Nauvi Patshahi is the first Gurdwara in Jalandhar to launch Free Bus Service to pick and drop Sangat from their houses to Gurdwara Sahib. Bus goes in different surrounding areas during morning time. People of old age are more benefited by this service. Gurdwara Nauvi Patshahi launched Free SMS Sewa to keep Sangat update about any events held at Gurdwara Sahib or any activity related to Sikhism. For this service contact at phone no. 9815588388. Gurdwara Nauvi Patshahi is first Gurdwara of Jalandhar City to launch Live Program of Katha in morning as well as evening on Citi Cable in Jalandhar. This service was appreciated by Sikh Sangat of whole of the city. This Gurdwara Management Committee is also running a Hospital of the same name Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Charitable Hospital. This hospital provides all kinds of services including pathology and dialysis services at very low rates. The poor patients who cannot afford are not charged even for these services. The OPD service is also available at a nominal rate of Rs. 20/- . S. Jagjit Singh Gaba is the president of this management committee. The contact details of this Gurdwara are Dukh Nivaran Sahib, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Jalandhar, phone no is +91-181-2460461 and e-mail is gurudwaragtbjal@gmail.com.