Baba Bakala Sahib Gurudwara is located in the town of Baba Bakala which is in the Amritsar district of Punjab, India. Gurdwara Baba Bakala Sahib is a prominent Sikh Gurdwara known for its association with the 9th Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. The main complex contains 4 Gurdwaras. There are also lodging facilities available for pilgrims. An Annual Fair called ‘Rakhar Punya’ is held on Raksha Bandhan (a festival of brothers and sisters) when many people gather at this holy place from all over the country. It is believed that at the holy shrine at Baba Bakala, the famous trader Makhan Shah Lunbana declared from his rooftop that he had found the true Guru. This event made the Baba Bakala a place of pilgrimage for Sikhs from all across the world and hence was made the venue of the annual fair of Rakhar Punya on the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
Historic Significance of Raksha Bandhan For Sikhs
The word rakhi, in the Punjabi language dates back to the 18th century when the Sikh Khalsa army introduced the term ‘Rakhadi’. The army promised the farmers of the land to protect them from the Mughal and Afghan armies and in exchange for it demanded a small share in their produce. Hence, originally it signified a bond between groups of people to protect each other’s well-being. This bond eventually turned into a bond between brothers and sisters, which is known as Raksha Bandhan. The founder of the Sikh empire Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his wife Maharani Jindan Kaur celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan and knew its sacredness well. Raksha Bandhan is observed on the full moon day of the Shravana month and has a very important cultural dimension to it.
In Sikh history, Raksha Bandhan has witnessed instances of solidarity and kinship. During tumultuous times, Sikhs have come together to protect and support one another, forming a bond akin to the one symbolized by the Rakhi. This historical backdrop infuses Raksha Bandhan with a deeper cultural tapestry that celebrates not only the bond between siblings but also the collective spirit of the Sikh community.
