Punjab: Cleaning of the gold-plated sacred area of the Golden Temple begins
Punjab: After the ‘Ardas’ (prayer) on Friday morning, a ‘Kar Seva’ (service) using herbal ingredients began to clean the gold plates on the domes and outer walls of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib, the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple. The gold plates are being washed with a natural mixture of water, lemon juice, and boiled soapnuts. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has entrusted Bhai Mohinder Singh, head of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha in Birmingham, with the responsibility of ‘Kar Seva’. The ‘Kar Seva’ (service) for cleaning the gold plates of the sanctum sanctorum is underway at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, Additional Head Granthi of the Golden Temple Giani Amarjit Singh, and Bhai Mohinder Singh, head of the Nishkam Sewak Jatha, were present at the start of the Kar Seva. Dhami said that volunteers from the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha in Birmingham wash the gold plates at the Golden Temple every year. The volunteers will also clean the gold plates on the domes of Akal Takht, Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai and Ghanta Ghar Deori. The SGPC President thanked the volunteers and hoped that they would continue to serve the ‘Guru Ghar’ (God’s House) in the same manner in the future. The ‘Kar Seva’ (car service) of cleaning the gold plates of the holy place is underway at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Bhai Mohinder Singh said that with the blessings of Guru Sahib, the group washes the gold every year with the support of the SGPC. He said that the volunteers have come especially for the ‘Kar Seva’, which will last for 10-12 days.
