Gurdwara Khara Sahib Bhai Ke Mattu (Pakistan) – A New Life to Sikh Heritage Begins
History
1620 — Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji’s visit
Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji visited Bhaike Mattu while returning from Kashmir. A man named Hargobind with tobacco-stained moustaches repented after the Guru’s advice. This event made the place sacred and started its recognition as a holy site.
17th–19th centuries — Local veneration
For centuries, locals honored the place through oral tradition and small shrines. It stayed...
Summary
History
1620 — Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji’s visit
Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji visited Bhaike Mattu while returning from Kashmir. A man named Hargobind with tobacco-stained moustaches repented after the Guru’s advice. This event made the place sacred and started its recognition as a holy site.
17th–19th centuries — Local veneration
For centuries, locals honored the place through oral tradition and small shrines. It stayed sacred even before becoming a formal Gurdwara.
Early–mid 20th century — Construction of the present Gurdwara
The main Gurdwara was built or expanded between the 1930s–1940s (Samvat 1990 ≈ 1942–45). Features included a square plan, tiled floors, floral paintings, carved wood, and donor plaques. An annual mela on 7th Sawan made it a local center of devotion.
1947 (Partition) — Abandonment and decline
After Partition, the Sikh community left for India. The Gurdwara lost caretakers, leading to neglect and damage, though plaques and core structure survived.
Post-1947 — Local protection and memory
Local Muslim residents respected and protected the shrine from destruction. Pilgrims and researchers later documented and kept its memory alive.
2000s–2010s — Documentation and attention
Heritage groups and Sikh websites shared photos and details, increasing awareness and calling for restoration.
2019 — Restoration initiatives
The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and authorities announced the reopening and restoration of Gurdwara Khara Sahib. Media covered ceremonies and early rehabilitation efforts.
2019–2024 — Ongoing repairs and renewed visits
Restoration continued with more visitors, videos, and reports showing the Gurdwara’s domes and courtyards. The structure remains mostly intact but still needs preservation work.
Present — Status and meaning
The shrine stands partially restored, with domes, plaques, and tile floors visible. It symbolizes Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji’s moral teachings and Sikh values of sewa, kirat, and openness.
Summary
Gurdwara Khara Sahib marks where Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji visited around 1620 CE, guiding a local man toward devotion and purity. A beautiful Gurdwara built in the early 20th century later commemorated the site. After 1947 it fell silent, but locals protected it. Since 2019, PSGPC efforts have revived the shrine as a shared symbol of faith, repentance, and heritage.