In a display of spiritual unity between the Sikh communities of Indian and Pakistani Punjab, a beautifully crafted golden palanquin was dispatched to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday. The palanquin, known as a 'palki', was sent as a religious offering to Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib.
Details of the Dispatch
The 'sewa' (service) of the palki was undertaken by Sant Baba Darshan Singh Kulliwale and his disciple Baba Gurdev Singh Kulliwale, both based in Amritsar. Along with the palanquin, four packs of 'rumala sahib' (sacred cloths) were also dispatched for Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal district, Pakistan.
The palanquin parts, wrapped in brown packages, were transported to the Zero Line through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari. Officials from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), led by Golden Temple manager Rajinder Singh, were present to assist with formalities and ensure Sikh 'rehat maryada' (code of conduct) was maintained.
Border Crossing and Reception
Indian Customs Commissioner AP Chaudhury, Superintendent Ashok Kumar, and BSF officials completed the necessary paperwork before handing over the palanquin parts to the Pakistan Customs wing. On the Pakistani side, PSGPC president Ramesh Singh Arora, Bhai Mahesh Singh Sindh, former PSGPC president Amir Singh, and other members of the Pakistan Sikh Sangat received the palanquin.
Baba Gurdev Singh stated that the golden-colored palanquin is made of fiber but declined to disclose its cost, emphasizing that it was a 'sewa' entrusted by the Guru. He added that Bhai Mahesh Singh Sindh had expressed a desire to install a palki at Sri Nankana Sahib, prompting them to undertake this service.
Historical Context
This is not the first instance of a palanquin being sent to Pakistan. In November 2024, a steel palki and copies of Guru Granth Sahib were sent via the Attari-Wagah border by a Muktsar-based Sikh organization to mark Guru Nanak's 555th birth anniversary. In October 2019, a 400-kg palki donated by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) was sent for installation at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur ahead of the Kartarpur Corridor inauguration. Earlier, in December 2005, a gold-plated palanquin worth Rs 45 lakh was carried in a procession from India to Nankana Sahib, though it was later dismantled due to space constraints.
