Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, India

Celebrating Guru Nanak Gurpurab. Guru Nanak Gurpurab

On the 553rd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, we are taking you to one of Amritsar's greatest attractions and its spiritual hub – Sri Harmandir Sahib – commonly known as the Golden Temple. This is the holiest temple in the Sikh faith. Guru Ramdas Sahib, the fourth of the 10 Sikh gurus, constructed the temple and its pool in the 1500s as a place of worship for all. It is believed that Guru Nanak Dev Ji used to meditate at the holy site long before the temple was built.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the founder of the religion of Sikhism and the first of the 10 Sikh gurus. He was born in 1469 at Nankana Sahib. It is believed that his birth was a mark of divinity. His birth anniversary is celebrated with much joy and fervour throughout the country and different parts of the world. The devotees visit Sikh temples, offer prayers, sing hymns in groups, play traditional musical instruments, and display their martial art skills on the occasion today.