Sikligar Sikh Jatha Pays Obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib
Posted: 24 Dec 2018 05:07 PM PSTCHANDIGARH, Punjab—A group of about 200 Sikligar Sikhs from Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) paid obeisance at the holiest Sikh shrine Sri Harmandir Sahib on December 24. Headed by Giani Dalip Singh and Harwinder Singh, these Sikligar Sikhs are on pilgrimage to various historic Sikh shrines of Punjab & Haryana namely Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib (Tarn Taran), Gurdwara Sri Baoli Sahib (Goindwal Sahib), Gurdwara Sri Jyoti Saroop (Fatehgarh Sahib), Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib (Sri Anandpur Sahib), Gurdwara Sri Nadha Sahib (Panchkula) and Gurdwara Sri Panjokhara Sahib.
After paying obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum, they proceeded towards Anandpur Sahib as part of their journey to religious destinations in Punjab. Their rail fare, accommodation and five buses were arranged by the SGPC.
Interacting with media, SGPC Secretary Balwinder Singh Jaura Singha said that the SGPC is making efforts to upgrade the life standards of Sikligar Sikhs. He added that the SGPC has been taking care of Sikligar families from MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra and also help their children in getting education. “Besides running schools for the children of Sikligar Sikhs, the SGPC has opened knitting centers for the women to make them self-reliant” he added.
Giani Dalip Singh and Harwinder Singh, who came with the delegation, said there were around 50 families of the Sikligar community living in Bhopal. “Their ancestors had settled in Bhopal a few decades ago and did petty jobs for livelihood. Their children observed the Sikh code of conduct and were devoted to the Sikhism. Today, they study in Guru Nanak Public School and Khalsa School in Bhopal. Some have even graduated from colleges,” they said while thanking the SGPC for its support.
Sikligars Sikhs were iron-smiths who once specialized in the craft of making and polishing weapons. Once commonly known as Gaddilohars, the term Sikligar was bestowed on these men who fashioned irons by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji who turned Lohgarh (the Iron fort at Anandpur Sahib) into the Sikh Armory.