ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>GHUKKEV&#256L&#298</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="GHUKKEVL*"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279GHUKKEV&#256L&#298, village 21 km north of Amritsar (31º-38'N, 74º-52'E) and connected by a link road to the Amritsar-Ajn&#257l&#257-&#7692er&#257 B&#257b&#257 N&#257nak road, has two historical shrines, sacred to Gur&#363 Arjan (1563-1606) and Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur (1621-75), respectively.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 GUR&#362 K&#256 B&#256<u>GH</u>, located in what was formerly called Gur&#363 k&#299 Rau&#7771 (<i>rau&#7771</i> is a Punjabi word for a barren tract of land), commemorates Gur&#363 Arjan's stay here during his travel through the M&#257jh&#257 country. A small shrine was established by Bh&#257&#299 Ghukk&#257, the founder of the village, whose descendants continued to look after it. When Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur visited the place in 1664, he encouraged the villagers to dig a well and raise a garden in the barren tract. As a result, Gur&#363 k&#299 Rau&#7771 in time became Gur&#363 k&#257 B&#257<u>gh</u> (lit. Gur&#363's Garden). A <i>gurdw&#257r&#257</i> was established and richly endowed during the time of the Sikh ruler, Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh (1780-1839). Like many other shrines it was under the control of Ud&#257s&#299 priests, and it was after a grim, non-violent agitation, known as Gur&#363 k&#257 B&#257<u>gh</u> <i>morch&#257</i>, in 1922, that the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee secured possession of the shrine and of lands attached to it. The present building complex was constructed during the 1980's within a high-walled compound. At the far end of the main assembly hall is the sanctum topped by a domed pavilion. In front of the hall is the <i>sarovar</i>, on the bank of which stands a tall memorial in honour of the martyrs of the Gur&#363 k&#257 B&#257<u>gh</u> <i>morch&#257</i> of 1922. A separate <i>gurdw&#257r&#257</i>, equally elegant, in the same compound commemorates the visit of Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 B&#256OL&#298 S&#256H&#298B is also dedicated to Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur. The open well (<i>b&#257ol&#299</i> in Punjabi) caused to be dug by the Gur&#363 still exists. Close to it is the assembly hall, with the sanctum at the far end.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'Both these <i>gurdw&#257r&#257s</i> are managed by a local committee under the auspices of the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee.</p> </ol><p class="CONT">Gurnek Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>