By Amjad Iqbal

Gurdawara Panja Sahib is located in Hassanabdal, 48 kilometres from Rawalpindi. Visited by both Hindus and Sikhs for pilgrimage twice a year, the Gurdawara or temple, has been a symbol of peace for over three centuries. The word ‘Panja’ means the palm of the hand in Punjabi.

The gurdawara’s name comes from a handprint on a rock, believed to belong to Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion.

According to legend, a holy man hurled a rock towards Guru Nanak who stopped the rock with his hand, leaving an imprint on it. The holy man, upon seeing this, became Guru Nanak’s devotee. The rock with the handprint has been preserved in its original shape and can be seen by visitors today.

The site where the Gurdawara stands is considered to be one of the holiest in Sikh religion. Each year, thousands of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims visit the temple from all over the world including India. Pilgrims from across the border arrive in Hassanabdal by special trains.

The majestic building of the gurdawara was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century. It houses a hostel for pilgrims, a courtyard, a pool and a temple.

The hostel has 376 rooms and all pilgrims are given free food from the temple’s kitchen for the duration of their stay. A large dining hall was built in 2010-11 which can accommodate over 1,000 people at a time.

Published in Dawn February 15th , 2015

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