Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Ardas Divas at Dibrugarh today

By Sardar Resham Singh

DIBRUGARH, Aug 14 � This incident took place in the year 1954. It was after the great earthquake of 1950. The floods of the year 1954 broke all records. Its effects can be seen even today in the Police Reserve area. It was then that the erosion of the Dibrugarh town started.

The mighty Brahmaputra began to wash away large chunks of land. The very thought even today sends a shiver down one�s spine. A large part of the densely-populated areas was swallowed up by the river. Large parts of Mohanaghat, old Govt HS School area, the old Marwari patti, the old court (the rear part) and the Gurudwara area (part of it) and the Chandmari ghat area were also washed away by the river. The entire town was under great danger of being washed away.

The then DC of Dibrugarh announced that when Brahmaputra touches the AT Road, the �town would have to be evacuated.� The people were all very worried and some even began to shift to safer places. The Sikh community of Dibrugarh who make up a very small percentage of the Dibrugarh population were deeply concerned about the threat imposed upon their place of worship (the gurudwara) on AT Road.

The Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee called a meeting after the DC�s announcement. In this meeting it was proposed that the gurudwara should be dismantled and the material retrieved so that it could again be rebuilt at a safe place with the same material. But this proposal was met with great objection. Finally it was decided that this gurudwara would not be dismantled but in future if a gurudwara was built it would be a new one.

Sardar Dhana Singh who was a senior member of the Sikh community and who was also addressed as Babaji out of love and respect said that if the building was not going to be dismantled then for the safety of the gurudwara and of Dibrugarh town, there should be Akhand Path (Guru Granth Sahib Path).

The sangat (community meeting) unanimously agreed upon this and the preparations were made for the Akhand Path. So prayers were made before the God Almighty to save the people of Dibrugarh from destruction and devastation by the mighty Brahmaputra. After completion of the Sri Akhand Path there were further prayers (Ardas invoking the Almighty) and prasad was offered to the mighty Brahmaputra (the writer was also present at the community prayers).

Even today I can say with great conviction, that the Brahmaputra has remained where it is near the gurudwara without further erosion.

Since the year 1954-1955, every year the Ardas Divas is observed on August 15 and an Akhand Path is organised and on its completion, prasad and langar (kitchen at the gurudwara campus where food is prepared) is offered to the mighty river and payers are offered for the safety of the Dibrugarh town. This year too, it will be observed on the August 15.

Next Story