President SGPC Avtar Singh Makkar planting a ceremonial tree at Naulakha Garden |
January 31, Kiratpur Sahib: An ancient Sikh tradition of planting culturally important herbs in
sacred places was revived today at Kiratpur Sahib, near Anandpur Sahib.
As part of a celebration, of the 383rd birthday of the seventh Sikh
Guru, the Sikh volunteer organization, Shree Ganga Nursery of Zirakpur
and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) began the
plantation of over 70 varieties of medicinal herbs. The new herb garden
will have an important position in the 350 year old Naulakha Garden, at
the birth place of Sri Guru Har Rai, Gurdwara Sheeshmehal Sahib in
Kiratpur Sahib.
Guru Har Rai was a nature lover and he instilled a vision among his
followers to care for and to live in harmony with nature and other
living beings. The Ganga nursery has been celebrating this day for the
past 13 years at the same place by planting trees and this year they
included herbs like cloves, cardamom, harar, bahera, amla, turmeric,
aloe vera etc. The plantation which began today is planned to complete
in 3 canals of this garden by March 14, when the Sikhs around the world
celebrate Sikh Environment Day on the the enthronement day of the
seventh Guru.
EcoSikh is a global organisation which connects the Sikh values,
beliefs, and institutions to the most important environmental issues
facing our world. In 2011, EcoSikh launched March 14 to be celebrated as
Sikh Environment Day, marking the Gurgaddi Diwas of Sri Guru Har Rai
Ji, the seventh master. It inspires Gurdwaras around the world to care
for the environment through Gurbani teachings, gardens, energy, water
use, composting, waste policies, recycling, plastic reduction and
thoughtful food purchasing.
EcoSikh had consultations with the Manjit Singh, Head of Ganga
Nursery, on plantation of herbs and medicinal plants several days ago.
It had also planned a visit of Dr. Swarn Singh Saini, former Professor
of the Agronomy at Punjab Agriculture University to explore the
possibility of making Kiratpur into an herbal and healing habitat. Dr.
Saini said, “Our sewa is always available to implement the vision of
Guru Har Rai ji and we will continue on this path.”
The President of SGPC, Avtar Singh Makkar and Jathedar Kesgarh Sahib,
Giani Tirlochan Singh were present at this event and planted a
ceremonial plant at the garden. Avtar Singh declared that Ganga Nursery
has taken up this task to plant the herbs and SGPC will take up the
maintenance part of the marvel garden.
EcoSikh India Project Manager, Ravneet Singh also present at the
ceremonies and shared Sikh Environment Day worldwide plans with the
philanthropist Manjit Singh of Shree Ganga Nursery and congratulated him
for his phenomenal efforts in restoring the historical garden of our
nature loving Guru.
The 7th Guru was instrumental in developing Kiratpur Sahib on the
banks of tributary of the Sutlej in Punjab as a town of parks and
gardens: he planted flowers and fruit bearing trees all over the area,
as well as medicinal herbs and wildlife sanctuaries. According to Sikh
history this created a salubrious environment, attracting birds and
animals to the town and turning it into an idyllic place to live. His
‘Naulakha Bagh’ was famous for wide varieties of rare medicinal herbs.
Even the then Emperor of India Shah Jahan sought medicine from Guru Har
Rai Ji for curing his son, Dara Shikoh. It is said that the rare
medicine was available nowhere but at Guru’s Naulakha Bagh which finally
cured Dara Shikoh.
See below a few pictures from Naulakha Garden:
New medicinal flowers at Naulakha on 31st January |
Landscape at Naulakha Garden |
Revival of Naulakha Garden of Guru Har Rai began on his 383rd birth anniversary