Amritsar, Oct 24 – Thousands of devotees on the occasion of festival of light ‘Diwali’ here on Monday have paid obeisance in the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple the most visited sacred Sikh shrine.

However, since early morning at 2.30 a.m onwards devotees were seen queued up to pay obeisance in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple and at Akal Takht (Highest Sikh Temporal Seat).

At 2.30 A.M the look of illuminated Golden Temple was enormously wonderful with the heavy lighting arrangements.  Bunting (burning of crackers) arrangements have also made around the sanctum sanctorum for evening.

Before paying obeisance in the Golden Temple devotees took holy dip in the water pond of Temple at the marbled periphery with belief that that holy dip would wash away their all bad deeds of previous births.

Special arrangements to facilitate the devotees were made by the management of the Golden Temple. LANGAR (Community Kitchen) have made elaborate arrangements of food for more than four lakhs devotees who would stay in the Golden Temple throughout the night.

Heavy task force of SGPC (Shriomani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Committee) was deployed in the periphery of the Golden Temple to  facialaite the visiting devotees besides keeping eye on anti-social elements. 

According to SGPC official the significance of said that on the same day in 1620, sixth Sikh master Guru Hargobind Sahib was released by the Mughal emperor Jahangir from the Gwalior fort alongwith the 52 other kings. 

According to the management of Golden Temple when Guru Hargobind Sahib was detained in the Gwalior fort at that time Mughal Emperor Jahangir fell sick and his physical condition went deteriorated. Then Jahangir was advised by astrologers to release Sikh master Hargobind Sahib to get rid of his miseries. 

After being released, Guru Hargobind Sahib directly reached Golden Temple in Amritsar, whereupon people lighted earthen lamps with desi ghee. The entire holy city was illuminated and tastefully decorated on the release of Guru.