Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday laid the foundation stone of the largest Gurdwara in the state at Rajgir in memory of Guru Naka Dev. While addressing the event he said- Rajgir is one such place where people of all faith converge. It was the place where Mahatma Buddha, Lord Mahavira, Guru Nanak Dev and Makdoom Sahib spent time. Foundation stone for gurdwara is believed to come up after 513 years of Guru Nanak’s visit to Rajgir
The proposed Sikh Gurdwara Shri Guru Nanak Sheetal Kund, Rajgir will come up on 1.25 acres around the kund which is believed to be created by Sikh Guru. The estimated cost would be around 3 crore. Jathedar(Head Priest) Giani Iqbal Singh praised CM Nitish for developing centers related to Sikh religion. The event resonated with name of Sadhguru. Nitish Kumar also participated in prayer which took place inside the gurdwara.
He mentioned about preparations made in Patna city on occasion of Guru Parv. Emphasising on tent city, he promised about a permanent all-purpose community centre which would help inthe stay of visitors and pilgrims during their visit.
He added that he had first visited Rajgir gurdwara during his stay there in 2007 and sanctioned some funds for its renovation but always aspired to get a magnificent Sikh temple there due to its association with Guru Nanak Devji, who is believed to have visited the place in 16th century. It is believed that in 1506, Guru Nanak Dev visited Rajgir.
This was the second visit of CM Nitish to his home district this year. He had visited his native village Kalyanbigha to pay homage to his mother Parmeshwari Devi on her eighth death anniversary on 1 January. The event was attended by MP Kaushlendra Kumar, MLA Ravi Jyoti Kumari, former JDU district president Siyasharan Thakur.
CM Nitish, who recently inaugurated the second largest Buddha’s stone statue at Rajgir’s Ghora Katora, requested officials to get ready the gurdwara constructed by October this year.
