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<p class="C1">&#65279DH&#362P&#298&#256, from Skt. <i>dh&#363pa</i> or incense, means incense-burner, i. e. a temple functionary whose duty it is to burn incense before the deity at appointed hours especially during the <i>&#257rat&#299</i> ritual, which the priests perform swaying a tray carrying lighted lamps in front of the deity. Though the ritual as such is rejected in Sikhism, the burning of incense and use of flowers and perfumes in <i>gurdw&#257r&#257s</i> as freshener of air are not prohibited. Bigger shrines attracting large gatherings of devotees such as Sr&#299 Darb&#257r S&#257hib at Amritsar may have <i>dh&#363p&#299&#257s</i> on their establishment, but generally the function of incense burning may be performed by any officiant or by any one from the <i>sa&#7749gat</i>. The office of <i>dh&#363p&#299&#257</i> as a member of the former hereditary priesthood has increasingly lost its importance since the days of the Gurdw&#257r&#257 reform.</p>
</ol><p class="CONT">Major Gurmukh Si&#7749gh (Retd.)<br></p><BR>
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