Thousands of devotees thronged Gurdwaras across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh on Sunday to offer prayers on the occasion of 352nd birth anniversary of tenth Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh.
Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) is revered by the Sikh community as he founded the 'Khalsa Panth', the warrior Sikh community, at Anandpur Sahib in 1699.
The holiest of Sikh shrines 'Harmandir Sahib', popularly known as Golden Temple in Amritsar and other Gurdwaras elsewhere saw religious fervour to mark the Guru's birth anniversary.
The entire Golden Temple complex was decorated with special lighting. Long queues of devotees were seen waiting for up to two hours to offer prayers inside the main shrine.
The festivities this year coincided with the festivals of 'Lohri' and 'Makar Sankranti'.
Heavy rush of devotees were also seen at the Takht Keshgarh Sahib Gurdwara in Anandpur Sahib town. It was at this place that Guru Gobind Singh founded the 'Khalsa Panth'.
Hundreds of people also offered prayers at Gurdwara Nada Sahib in Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh, where the Guru stayed for a few days during his lifetime.
Religious processions were taken out at all places in the region on Friday and Saturday to mark the birth anniversary.
