SUNDAY, APRIL10, 2016 INTERNET EDITION : www...
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Shaildeep Singh Raina Though, every region in India celebrates this festival in its own way, Navratri Festival is dedicated to the three avatars of Goddess Shakti - Durga (the warrior Goddess), Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth), and Saraswati (the Goddess of knowledge). Cultural diversity is shown along with the cultural unity of all the regions of India. India is a land of festivals fasts and festivals are of great importance here. All these fasts and festivals are celebrated in all over India with great zeal and faith. Among all the fasts and festivals, Sharda Navratra holds a place of great importance. Navratri" or "Navratra" is a combined word which translated means nine nights. "Nav" means nine and "Ratri" means night, so com- bined it means Navratri or Nine nights. In northern parts of India this festival is called " Navratra". Navratri is a nine day holy festival, which is celebrated to propitiate Goddess of Shakti or Divine Mother. Many devotees keep fast on all the nine days of this holy festival of nights. Devotees throng the Devi temples all over India where Goddess Idol is decorated beautifully. Navratri cel- ebrations are observed very enthusiastically in the state of Gujarat where all nine nights of Navratras are spent in vibrant Garba and Rasa dance. In West Bengal Durga Puja is the most important festival and is celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm. The festival of Navratri is celebrated with prayers and gaiety in the beginning of the Ashwin (autumn) and the beginning of Chaitra (spring). This period is a time for self-referrae. During this time of transformation, nature sheds the old and gets rejuvenated and life emerges back afresh in the spring. Chaitra Navratri is nine days festivity which starts on the first day of Hindu Lunir-Solar calendar and falls in the month of March or April. Rama Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama usually falls on the ninth day during Navratri festivity. Hence Chaitra Navratri is also known as Rama Navratri. SIGNIFICANCE OF NAVRATRAS Symbolizing victory of positivity over negativity, Navratri literally means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit; Nav - Nine and Ratri - nights. During these nine nights and ten days, the three forms of the goddess -Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati - are invoked. Amidst great celebration, the mind can be carried away and easily go off-center. Usually in any celebration, the mind goes everywhere. So to bring back the mind to the centre, we keep a joyful silence with awareness. The mind is always conditioned to patterns. When a person gradually gains victory over evil ten- dencies, there is a void or emptiness. If left empty, the new found victory over evil tendencies will be lost soon. Therefore, this void should be filled with spiritual wealth. Goddess Lakshmi. Represents 'Sri, Tejas, Aishwarya' - prosperity, peace, purity and serenity. 1. Navratri's each night (ratri) is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga. That is every night (ratri)of the Navratri corresponds to worship of different forms of Goddess Durga. * Maa Shailputri : The daughter of Parvatraj Himalaya (King of the Mountain Himalaya). She married Lord Shiva and is known as mother of Lord Ganesha (The Remover of obstacles) and Kartikeya (The God of War). * Maa Brahmachaarin : She gives the message of pure love to the world. * Maa Chandraghanta : She establishes Justice. She wears the crescent moon on her head. * Maa Kushmaanda : She provides the basic neces- sities, and every day sustenance to the world. * Skand Maa : She gives the gift of differentiation & discrimination of right from wrong to the world. * Maa Kaatyayini : She persistently & relentlessly battles against the evil and deceitful & devious entities. * Maa Kaalratri : She killed Raktabeeja (A demon who had the power to produce a demon from every drop of blood that fell from his body. Goddess & Divine Mother eventually licked the blood before it could reach the ground and hence conquered & over powered him). * Maa Chaamunda : She killed two demons-- Chanda and Munda and restored tranquility & order in the world. * Maa Maha Gauri : She also liberated the world from the evil forces. * Mata Sidhidaarti : She is a treasure house of Mystic Powers (Yantra Tantra) and Knowledge (Gyaan). The devotees worship these nine incarnations of god- dess Durga till nine days to get blessing of Maa Durga. It is believed that People who worship Maa Bhagwati, do fasting and chant mantras during Navratri will be blessed with prosperity, health and wisdom in their life. Jaagran also made by the devotees during Navratri nights. It also proves that "God is One". These nine days are an opportunity to be completely in Sadhana, Seva, Satsang and of course, the grace of the Master is already with us. SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine Jammu girl is........Page 4 A toiling farmer ....Page 2 THE NINE NIGHTS FESTIVAL Baisakhi Mela DERA SANT PURA NANGALI SAHIB K.D. Maini Every year, a grand Baisakhi Mela is organ- ised at Dera Sant Pura Nagali Sahib. Almost every section of society participates in the fes- tival. Dera Sant Pura Nangali Sahib is about four kilometer away from Poonch city. This impor- tant shrine is located in between the Doda range of mountains on the left bank of Durga Nadhi (Drungli). About 2006 years ago, a great saint and spiritual personality of his time Thakur Bhai Mela Singh established Dera Sant Pura Nangali Sahib at this very place. In those days, the village was known as Bowli but with the establishment of Dera and Gurudwara, the village was renamed by the public as Nan- gali Sahib after the name of Gurudwara Nan- gali Sahib. Presently, the Dera Sant Pura Nangali Sahib complex comprises Samadhi of Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji, Tapo Asthan (cave), three storied Gurudwara Sahib building having about 70 rooms, Langar Hall and new Gurud- wara building constructed in memory of Mahant Bachiter Singh Ji first aid centre and Rest House. This historic shrine has played a great role in preaching Sikhism in Jammu and Kash- mir. Therefore, the Sikh community of the state is greatly attached to this holy Dera. Apart from routine visit of Sikh and Hindu devotees, the Sikhs from all corners of the state assemble here every year on the eve of Baisakhi to pay offerings and obeisance. After Akhand Path, Shabad Kirtan Ardas, Bhog and Langar this religious function takes the shape of Mela in which thousands of pil- grims including Hindus and Muslims partic- ipated. On this occasion, eatables and other shops are established near the main Shrine. Games are also played. Gatka (the war game) is the main attraction of the Mela in which hundreds of Sikh youths in religious dresses with naked swords display their talent. The Dera Nangali Sahib has a long histor- ical background. As per Tariq-e-Aqwam-e- Poonch of Mohammad Din Foaq the 10th Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj after laying the foundation of Khalsa Panth had deputed Bhai Pheru Singh Ji, Bhai Punjab Singh Ji and Bhai Rocha Singh Ji for spreading Sikhism in Kashmir and Pothohar areas. Sant Bhai Pheru Singh Ji (1640-1697 AD) remained busy in missionary work in Hazara district on the Western side of Poonch, Bhai Punjab Singh Ji (1672-1729 AD) established his Dera at Chattar Khalas in Muzaffarabad and Bhai Rocha Singh Ji, the discipline of Sant Bhai Pheru Singh Ji was asked to estab- lish his Gaddi (seat) in Poonch Illaqa. There- fore, Sant Bhai Rocha Singh Ji (1688-1803 AD) came to Poonch Illaqa and established the Dera (seat at Rawalakote now in POK). He constructed a Gurudwara, started Guru Ka Langar and preaching of Sikhism. With the sincere efforts of these saints, the new religion got popularity among Hindu masses and they started embracing Sikhism. Sant Bhai Rocha Singh Ji died in 1803 AD. Before his death he had nominated his disci- ple Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji of village Koteray Tehsil Bagh as his successor. There- fore, on Baisakhi of 1803 AD, the sangat assembled at Rawalakote in which Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji was formally declared as Mahant of the Gaddi. Prof. Netar Singh writes in his book ‘Dera Nangali Sahib’ that Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji ascended to the Gaddi at the age of 20 in 1803 AD at Rawalakote. Immediately after the construction of Samadhi of Sant Bhai Rocha Singh Ji at Rawalakote, he left the town with armed devotees for mountainous areas on religious tour and reached Poonch town in 1803 AD. Finding the environment of Poonch town was not peaceful and conducive for a saint to live in, Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji moved towards Bowli (present Nangali Sahib) which was a Hindu dominated village at that time. During his visit, Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji saw a solitary place on the bank of Durga Nadi, a scenic spot. He found it suitable for meditation and decided to establish a Dera here. He at once decided to shift his Dera from Rawalakote to this place. The devotees on his order cleared the forests of Nangals from some area and constructed Kachha Gurudwara, Kitchen and Musaffar Khana for the convenience of the pilgrims. In the month of August 1803 AD, Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji formally inaugurated the Dera. As per Tarikh-e-Aquam-e-Poonch the ruler of Poonch principality in 1803 AD was Gujjar Wazir Ru-Allah-Khan Sangu. It is said that Ru-Allah had approved Thakur Ji to settled in Poonch area instead of Rawalakote. Therefore, Thakur Ji selected Nangali Sahib for meditation and preaching of Sikhism. In 1814 AD during the first attack of Maharaja Ranjit Singh on Kashmir, Maharaja had established royal camp at Bowali near Poonch, visited Nangali Sahib and met Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji for blessing. In 1823 AD the Khalsa Governor of Poonch Dewan Dhanpat Rai had annexed two vil- lages with Nangali Sahib for continuation of Langar. In 1837 AD when Raja Gulab Singh (later on who become Maharaja of J&K) Jammu came to Poonch on the order of Maharaja Ranjit Singh for subsiding Poonch revolt, he had also visited Nangali Sahib shrine and attached a village with the shrine. The great Sant Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji passed away in 1854 AD. After that Sant Bhai Mana Singh Ji (1854-1870 AD), Bhai Mangal Singh Ji (1870-1877 AD), Bhai Rat- tan Singh Ji (1878-1879 AD), Bhai Avtar Singh Ji (1879-1892 AD), Bhai Rattan Singh Ji Modi (1892-1901 AD), and Bhai Morh Singh Ji (1901-1919 AD) remained the Mahants of Dera Nangali Sahib. In 1919 AD, when Bhai Mangal Singh Ji attained the Gaddi of Nangali Sahib, the Raja of Poonch Sukhdev Singh had also participated in the ceremony. Holiday was declared in Poonch State and on behalf of Poonch Government Rs. 500 were offered as obeisance. Sant Bhai Mangal Singh Ji made a number of additions in the Gurudwara complex which was con- structed by Bhai Morh Singh Ji. He also started Gurmukhi Pathshala at Poonch and Bhantani (now in PoK). After the death of Bhai Mangal Singh Ji, his disciple Bhai Bachitter Singh Ji succeed- ed him on 23rd of October 1947. During the happenings of 1947, Mahant ji was com- pelled to come to Poonch town as the village Nangali Sahib too fell to enemy. After the liberation of the village, Mahant Ji immedi- ately rushed to Nangali Sahib but the origi- nal Gurudwara complex was burnt and destroyed by the tribes men. Therefore, he was putting up in a small room near the Dera. Then he planned for construction of a big Gurudwara complex and started tours of villages and towns for collection of dona- tions. In the meantime, due to implementa- tion of land reform act, all the Jagir of the shrine was taken over by the Government except 182 kanal cultivable land. Out of this land, about 100 kanal got washed away in 1959 flood. Even then the construction of Gurudwara Sahib and continuation of Lan- gar was not stopped by Mahant Ji and in 1966, three storied Gurudwara building was completed at a cost of Rs. 15 lakh. This is the unique religious building in Poonch Illaqa. Mahant Bachitter Singh Ji passed away at Nangali Sahib on 1st November 1991. He was 74. On 2nd November 1991 after the crema- tion of Mahant Ji, a meeting of prominent Sikh personalities was held at Nangali Sahib. In this religious meeting, Sardar Harnam Singh a Sikh leader and associate of Mahant Bachitter Singh Ji told the Sangat before Guru Granth Sahib that it was the will of Late Mahant Ji that his true disciple Bhai Man- jeet Singh Ji may be his successor. Apart from spiritual and missionary work, Mahant Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji took interest in further development of Dera. He constructed a new Gurudwara Sahib at Nan- gali Sahib in memory of his predecessor Mahant Bachitter Singh Ji. He purchased about 50 kanal cultivable lands in Jhullas and Chandak area for con- tinuation of Langar. With his serious efforts, an Engineering College and a B.Ed. College at Digiana Jammu have been established for deserving students. This is the main contri- bution of Mahant Ji for the community. He has also taken a number of social reforms. He is also planning to open a Medical College for the higher education of children of remote and border areas. His contribution in the field of education is remarkable. Though, every region in India celebrates this festival in its own way, Navratri Festival is dedicated to the three avatars of Goddess Shakti - Durga (the warrior Goddess), Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth), and Saraswati (the Goddess of knowledge). Cultural diversity is shown along with the cultural unity of all the regions of India. Devotees at Nangali Sahib shrine.
Transcript of SUNDAY, APRIL10, 2016 INTERNET EDITION : www...
Shaildeep Singh Raina
TThhoouugghh,, eevveerryy rreeggiioonn iinn IInnddiiaa cceelleebbrraatteesstthhiiss ffeessttiivvaall iinn iittss oowwnn wwaayy,, NNaavvrraattrriiFFeessttiivvaall iiss ddeeddiiccaatteedd ttoo tthhee tthhrreeee aavvaattaarrssooff GGooddddeessss SShhaakkttii - DDuurrggaa ((tthhee wwaarrrriioorrGGooddddeessss)),, LLaakksshhmmii ((tthhee GGooddddeessss ooffwweeaalltthh)),, aanndd SSaarraasswwaattii ((tthhee GGooddddeessss ooffkknnoowwlleeddggee)).. CCuullttuurraall ddiivveerrssiittyy iiss sshhoowwnnaalloonngg wwiitthh tthhee ccuullttuurraall uunniittyy ooff aallll tthheerreeggiioonnss ooff IInnddiiaa..
India is a land of festivals fasts and festivals are ofgreat importance here. All these fasts and festivals arecelebrated in all over India with great zeal and faith.Among all the fasts and festivals, Sharda Navratra holdsa place of great importance. Navratri" or "Navratra" is acombined word which translated means nine nights."Nav" means nine and "Ratri" means night, so com-bined it means Navratri or Nine nights. In northernparts of India this festival is called " Navratra".
Navratri is a nine day holy festival, which is celebratedto propitiate Goddess of Shakti or Divine Mother. Manydevotees keep fast on all the nine days of this holy festivalof nights. Devotees throng the Devi temples all over Indiawhere Goddess Idol is decorated beautifully. Navratri cel-ebrations are observed very enthusiastically in the state ofGujarat where all nine nights of Navratras are spent invibrant Garba and Rasa dance. In West Bengal DurgaPuja is the most important festival and is celebrated withgaiety and enthusiasm.
The festival of Navratri is celebrated with prayers andgaiety in the beginning of the Ashwin (autumn) and thebeginning of Chaitra (spring). This period is a time forself-referrae. During this time of transformation, naturesheds the old and gets rejuvenated and life emerges backafresh in the spring.
Chaitra Navratri is nine days festivity which starts onthe first day of Hindu Lunir-Solar calendar and falls inthe month of March or April. Rama Navami, the birthdayof Lord Rama usually falls on the ninth day duringNavratri festivity. Hence Chaitra Navratri is also knownas Rama Navratri.
SIGNIFICANCE OF NAVRATRASSymbolizing victory of positivity over negativity,
Navratri literally means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit; Nav -Nine and Ratri - nights. During these nine nights and tendays, the three forms of the goddess -Durga, Lakshmi andSaraswati - are invoked.
Amidst great celebration, the mind can be carriedaway and easily go off-center. Usually in any celebration,the mind goes everywhere. So to bring back the mind tothe centre, we keep a joyful silence with awareness. Themind is always conditioned to patterns.
When a person gradually gains victory over evil ten-dencies, there is a void or emptiness. If left empty, thenew found victory over evil tendencies will be lost soon.Therefore, this void should be filled with spiritual wealth.
Goddess Lakshmi. Represents 'Sri, Tejas, Aishwarya' -prosperity, peace, purity and serenity.
1. Navratri's each night (ratri) is dedicated to one form
of Goddess Durga. That is every night (ratri)of theNavratri corresponds to worship of different forms ofGoddess Durga.
* Maa Shailputri : The daughter of ParvatrajHimalaya (King of the Mountain Himalaya). She marriedLord Shiva and is known as mother of Lord Ganesha (TheRemover of obstacles) and Kartikeya (The God of War).
* Maa Brahmachaarin : She gives the message ofpure love to the world.
* Maa Chandraghanta : She establishes Justice.She wears the crescent moon on her head.
* Maa Kushmaanda : She provides the basic neces-
sities, and every day sustenance to the world.* Skand Maa : She gives the gift of differentiation &
discrimination of right from wrong to the world.* Maa Kaatyayini : She persistently & relentlessly
battles against the evil and deceitful & devious entities.* Maa Kaalratri : She killed Raktabeeja (A demon
who had the power to produce a demon from every dropof blood that fell from his body. Goddess & Divine Mothereventually licked the blood before it could reach theground and hence conquered & over powered him).
* Maa Chaamunda : She killed two demons--Chanda and Munda and restored tranquility & order inthe world.
* Maa Maha Gauri : She also liberated the worldfrom the evil forces.
* Mata Sidhidaarti : She is a treasure house ofMystic Powers (Yantra Tantra) and Knowledge (Gyaan).
The devotees worship these nine incarnations of god-dess Durga till nine days to get blessing of Maa Durga. Itis believed that People who worship Maa Bhagwati, dofasting and chant mantras during Navratri will be blessedwith prosperity, health and wisdom in their life. Jaagranalso made by the devotees during Navratri nights.
It also proves that "God is One".These nine days are an opportunity to be completely in
Sadhana, Seva, Satsang and of course, the grace of theMaster is already with us.
SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazineJJaammmmuu ggiirrll iiss..............PPaaggee 44 AA ttooiilliinngg ffaarrmmeerr ........PPaaggee 22
THE NINE NIGHTS FESTIVAL
BBaaiissaakkhhii MMeellaa
DERA SANT PURANANGALI SAHIB
K.D. Maini
Every year, a grand Baisakhi Mela is organ-ised at Dera Sant Pura Nagali Sahib. Almostevery section of society participates in the fes-tival.
Dera Sant Pura Nangali Sahib is about fourkilometer away from Poonch city. This impor-tant shrine is located in between the Dodarange of mountains on the left bank of DurgaNadhi (Drungli). About 2006 years ago, agreat saint and spiritual personality of his timeThakur Bhai Mela Singh established Dera SantPura Nangali Sahib at this very place. In thosedays, the village was known as Bowli but withthe establishment of Dera and Gurudwara,the village was renamed by the public as Nan-gali Sahib after the name of Gurudwara Nan-gali Sahib.
Presently, the Dera Sant Pura NangaliSahib complex comprises Samadhi of ThakurBhai Mela Singh Ji, Tapo Asthan (cave), threestoried Gurudwara Sahib building havingabout 70 rooms, Langar Hall and new Gurud-wara building constructed in memory ofMahant Bachiter Singh Ji first aid centre andRest House.
This historic shrine has played a great rolein preaching Sikhism in Jammu and Kash-mir. Therefore, the Sikh community of thestate is greatly attached to this holy Dera.Apart from routine visit of Sikh and Hindudevotees, the Sikhs from all corners of thestate assemble here every year on the eve ofBaisakhi to pay offerings and obeisance.After Akhand Path, Shabad Kirtan Ardas,Bhog and Langar this religious function takesthe shape of Mela in which thousands of pil-grims including Hindus and Muslims partic-ipated. On this occasion, eatables and othershops are established near the main Shrine.Games are also played. Gatka (the war game)is the main attraction of the Mela in whichhundreds of Sikh youths in religious dresseswith naked swords display their talent.
The Dera Nangali Sahib has a long histor-ical background. As per Tariq-e-Aqwam-e-Poonch of Mohammad Din Foaq the 10thGuru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj after layingthe foundation of Khalsa Panth had deputedBhai Pheru Singh Ji, Bhai Punjab Singh Jiand Bhai Rocha Singh Ji for spreading
Sikhism in Kashmir and Pothohar areas.Sant Bhai Pheru Singh Ji (1640-1697 AD)remained busy in missionary work in Hazaradistrict on the Western side of Poonch, BhaiPunjab Singh Ji (1672-1729 AD) establishedhis Dera at Chattar Khalas in Muzaffarabadand Bhai Rocha Singh Ji, the discipline ofSant Bhai Pheru Singh Ji was asked to estab-lish his Gaddi (seat) in Poonch Illaqa. There-fore, Sant Bhai Rocha Singh Ji (1688-1803AD) came to Poonch Illaqa and establishedthe Dera (seat at Rawalakote now in POK).He constructed a Gurudwara, started GuruKa Langar and preaching of Sikhism. Withthe sincere efforts of these saints, the newreligion got popularity among Hindu massesand they started embracing Sikhism.
Sant Bhai Rocha Singh Ji died in 1803 AD.Before his death he had nominated his disci-ple Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji of villageKoteray Tehsil Bagh as his successor. There-fore, on Baisakhi of 1803 AD, the sangatassembled at Rawalakote in which ThakurBhai Mela Singh Ji was formally declared asMahant of the Gaddi.
Prof. Netar Singh writes in his book ‘DeraNangali Sahib’ that Thakur Bhai Mela SinghJi ascended to the Gaddi at the age of 20 in1803 AD at Rawalakote. Immediately afterthe construction of Samadhi of Sant BhaiRocha Singh Ji at Rawalakote, he left thetown with armed devotees for mountainousareas on religious tour and reached Poonchtown in 1803 AD.
Finding the environment of Poonch townwas not peaceful and conducive for a saint tolive in, Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji movedtowards Bowli (present Nangali Sahib) whichwas a Hindu dominated village at that time.During his visit, Thakur Bhai Mela Singh Jisaw a solitary place on the bank of DurgaNadi, a scenic spot. He found it suitable formeditation and decided to establish a Derahere. He at once decided to shift his Derafrom Rawalakote to this place. The devoteeson his order cleared the forests of Nangalsfrom some area and constructed KachhaGurudwara, Kitchen and Musaffar Khanafor the convenience of the pilgrims. In themonth of August 1803 AD, Thakur Bhai MelaSingh Ji formally inaugurated the Dera. Asper Tarikh-e-Aquam-e-Poonch the ruler of
Poonch principality in 1803 AD was GujjarWazir Ru-Allah-Khan Sangu. It is said thatRu-Allah had approved Thakur Ji to settledin Poonch area instead of Rawalakote.Therefore, Thakur Ji selected Nangali Sahibfor meditation and preaching of Sikhism. In1814 AD during the first attack of MaharajaRanjit Singh on Kashmir, Maharaja hadestablished royal camp at Bowali nearPoonch, visited Nangali Sahib and metThakur Bhai Mela Singh Ji for blessing. In1823 AD the Khalsa Governor of PoonchDewan Dhanpat Rai had annexed two vil-lages with Nangali Sahib for continuation ofLangar. In 1837 AD when Raja Gulab Singh(later on who become Maharaja of J&K)Jammu came to Poonch on the order ofMaharaja Ranjit Singh for subsidingPoonch revolt, he had also visited NangaliSahib shrine and attached a village with theshrine.
The great Sant Thakur Bhai Mela SinghJi passed away in 1854 AD. After that SantBhai Mana Singh Ji (1854-1870 AD), BhaiMangal Singh Ji (1870-1877 AD), Bhai Rat-tan Singh Ji (1878-1879 AD), Bhai AvtarSingh Ji (1879-1892 AD), Bhai Rattan SinghJi Modi (1892-1901 AD), and Bhai MorhSingh Ji (1901-1919 AD) remained theMahants of Dera Nangali Sahib. In 1919 AD,when Bhai Mangal Singh Ji attained theGaddi of Nangali Sahib, the Raja of Poonch
Sukhdev Singh had also participated in theceremony. Holiday was declared in PoonchState and on behalf of Poonch GovernmentRs. 500 were offered as obeisance. Sant BhaiMangal Singh Ji made a number of additionsin the Gurudwara complex which was con-structed by Bhai Morh Singh Ji. He alsostarted Gurmukhi Pathshala at Poonch andBhantani (now in PoK).
After the death of Bhai Mangal Singh Ji,his disciple Bhai Bachitter Singh Ji succeed-ed him on 23rd of October 1947. During thehappenings of 1947, Mahant ji was com-pelled to come to Poonch town as the villageNangali Sahib too fell to enemy. After theliberation of the village, Mahant Ji immedi-ately rushed to Nangali Sahib but the origi-nal Gurudwara complex was burnt anddestroyed by the tribes men. Therefore, hewas putting up in a small room near theDera. Then he planned for construction of abig Gurudwara complex and started tours ofvillages and towns for collection of dona-tions. In the meantime, due to implementa-tion of land reform act, all the Jagir of theshrine was taken over by the Governmentexcept 182 kanal cultivable land. Out of thisland, about 100 kanal got washed away in1959 flood. Even then the construction ofGurudwara Sahib and continuation of Lan-gar was not stopped by Mahant Ji and in1966, three storied Gurudwara building was
completed at a cost of Rs. 15 lakh. This is theunique religious building in Poonch Illaqa.
Mahant Bachitter Singh Ji passed away atNangali Sahib on 1st November 1991. He was74. On 2nd November 1991 after the crema-tion of Mahant Ji, a meeting of prominentSikh personalities was held at Nangali Sahib.In this religious meeting, Sardar HarnamSingh a Sikh leader and associate of MahantBachitter Singh Ji told the Sangat beforeGuru Granth Sahib that it was the will of LateMahant Ji that his true disciple Bhai Man-jeet Singh Ji may be his successor.
Apart from spiritual and missionarywork, Mahant Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji tookinterest in further development of Dera. Heconstructed a new Gurudwara Sahib at Nan-gali Sahib in memory of his predecessorMahant Bachitter Singh Ji.
He purchased about 50 kanal cultivablelands in Jhullas and Chandak area for con-tinuation of Langar. With his serious efforts,an Engineering College and a B.Ed. Collegeat Digiana Jammu have been established fordeserving students. This is the main contri-bution of Mahant Ji for the community. Hehas also taken a number of social reforms. Heis also planning to open a Medical College forthe higher education of children of remoteand border areas. His contribution in the fieldof education is remarkable.
Though, every region in Indiacelebrates this festival in its ownway, Navratri Festival is dedicatedto the three avatars of GoddessShakti - Durga (the warriorGoddess), Lakshmi (the Goddessof wealth), and Saraswati (theGoddess of knowledge). Culturaldiversity is shown along withthe cultural unity of all theregions of India.
Devotees at Nangali Sahib shrine.
