Our Bureau
Amritsar
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Monday visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar to pay his respects, with security arrangements put in place around the shrine during his visit.
Gor has been visiting various parts of India as part of his mandate. He recently travelled to Srinagar and Leh.
The security deployment has been put in place ahead of Gor’s scheduled visit to the revered Sikh shrine, with personnel positioned at different points to ensure security and maintain law and order during the visit.
According to the official website of Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, the Golden Temple is a central religious place for Sikhs and a symbol of human brotherhood and equality, with people from different castes, creeds and races welcome to seek spiritual solace and religious fulfilment.
The website stated that Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji, the fourth Sikh Guru, began the digging of the Amrit Sarovar, or holy tank, in 1577 AD, following the guidance of Sri Guru Amar Dass Ji, the third Sikh Guru. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru, later brick-lined the holy tank on December 15, 1588, and began construction of Sri Darbar Sahib.
After its compilation, Sri Guru Granth Sahib was first installed at Sri Darbar Sahib on August 16, 1604, with Baba Budha Ji appointed as its first head priest.
The Golden Temple follows a distinctive Sikh architectural design and is built at a level lower than the surrounding land, which the website says conveys the values of egalitarianism and humility. Its four entrances, facing all four directions, signify that people from every walk of life are equally welcome.
The shrine, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, remains one of the most prominent Sikh religious sites and attracts visitors and pilgrims from across India and around the world.