Visit to the Golden Temple

Among the various mesmerising and enchanting places that are worth visting in India Golden Temple ranks quite high.Build under the guidance of Guru Ramdas and Guru Arjan Dev(4th and 5th Gurus of the Sikhs) it is so named because it has been covered by gold ,which was given by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.Also called Darbar Sahib and Harmandir Sahib(Har means God and Mandir stands for Temple).The name of the city Amritsar in Punjab where it is situated also takes it name after the sacred pond inside the temple complex.Amrit means nectar and sar is for sarovar or pond.Golden Temple has huge religious significance for the Sikhs but it is undisputedly one of the most secular places of worship.The foundation stone of the temple was laid by Sant Mian Mir who was a Muslim saint and the temple has four doors signifying that any human being irrespective of religion,caste ,colour,creed or gender can come from all the four directions of the world.

The atmosphere on entering the complex is surreal,even when one is outside near the small shops on the side of the road leading to Golden Temple the sound of kirtan(singing of the holy Gurbani) welcomes visitors with its soothing and pleasant music.Buying of souverins can be done on coming out but if one wishes to offer something to Guru Granth Sahib in the main temple it is better to buy Rumala Sahib(decorated cloth for covering the Guru Granth Sahib) from these shops.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE ENTERING THE TEMPLE?
*The first and foremost is to take off your shoes and socks which can be submitted at Joda Ghar(Joda is punjabi for shoes)which is just outside the temple.
*After this one must cover head with a cloth.
*Then on proceeding to the temple one must wash one's feet in the running water which comes just before the stairs leading down to the main complex.

INSIDE THE TEMPLE
Walking down the stairs and looking for the first time at the temple covered in gold shining in the sunlight is one experience worth having.It is visited everyday by many poeple to pay respect to their revered Guru.But then there are all sorts of people one would find even on normal days -people on pilgrimage,others plain tourists who come for sight seeing with cameras and then others sitting down praying with their prayer book in hand or some just sitting meditatively listening to Gurbani.
THE MAIN SAROVAR
People walk around the sacred pond in clockwise direction to reach the main temple.While circling the pond on the way is the Dukh Bhanjani beri(Sorrow removing berry tree)which is so old that it is kept from falling down by support from iron rods.There is an interesting story related to it-it is said that an unfortunate homeless princess married to a leper came to it one day and leaving her husband there went to fetch food.Her husband while sitting there saw a crow come in the pond and after coming out of the pond it turned to swan.Seeing this her husband took bath in the water of the pond and he too was cured of his disease.Another story goes that there is a pot full of nectar under the pond and thus it cures all diseases.And true to its fame so many people -men and children take a dip in the water under the tree and women in an adjacent walled room .Some just sprinkle holy water over their face and head because it is considered auspicious to do this before entering the main temple.It is a symbolic act signifying that we have cleaned ourselves before entering the holy place.
The MAIN TEMPLE COMPLEX
Entering the main place of worship one can see the Guru Granth Sahib placed under a decorated canopy, the Raagis(Priests singing Gurbani )whose voices create a peaceful and soothing atmosphere in the whole temple complex and the beautiful artwork in the inner walls of the temple.The television cameras are placed there for live telecast of the morning and evening prayer which takes place everyday.One of the senior priest always sits in attendance of Guru Granth Sahib and two or three more priests assist him .The place in front of Guru Granth Sahib is decorated with flowers,garlands and bouquets.Swords signifying the martial spirit of the Sikhs are also placed in front.Cleanliness is maintained to the highest of standards.
Few people can sit inside the main Gurudwara ,there is place outside the Gurudwara if people want to sit .There is upper floor also on which people can climb if they want to just sit or read from prayer book.After paying respects on coming out of the temple as in all Gurudraras prasad(sweet flour preparation which is first offered to Guru and then distributed as blessing)is given.
OTHER PLACES OF RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE INSIDE THE TEMPLE COMPLEX
Akal Takht Sahib (the Throne of the Almighty) is the place from where the 6th Guru ,Guru Hargobind ji used to giude the Sikhs.It is the place of Miri and Piri(temporal and spiritual authority).Then there is also the place where Baba Deep Singh fighting bravely finally succumbed to his injuries .Akhand Paath(continous rectitation) of the Guru Granth Sahib also takes place in various places in the temple complex.Laangar(holy kitchen) where free food is distributed as prasad whole day long also is special feature of Golden Temple ,and here everyone irrespective of social standing eats together while sitting down on the foor.
MAIN FESTIVALS
People come in large number on special occasions like the birthdays of the Gurus,Full Moon days,Holi and Diwali.Golden Temple is specially worth seeing on the night of diwali .