NAROWAL, Nov 23: Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan to celebrate 535th birthday of Baba Guru Nanak will also visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpura, some 16km from here.
Nanak was born in 1469 at Nankana Sahib (Sheikhupura) but died in 1539 on the bank of the river Ravi near Kartarpura, where now stands Gurudwara Darbar Sahib.
Guru Nanak presented social reforms and taught people to live with harmony irrespective of their religious beliefs. He had firm belief in serving the humanity. He was not a Muslim but his teachings were very close to local Muslims' social set-up.
That was why both the Hindus and the Muslims were among his followers. It is also believed that Baba Guru Nanak had also performed Haj to express solidarity with the Muslims.
When he died a dispute erupted between the Muslims and the Sikhs over his funeral - with the former wanting burial and the latter cremation. During this deadlock, it is said, Nanak's body disappeared and there left only a piece of cloth covering his body.
The Muslims and Sikhs divided the 'sacred' cloth in two equal pieces and performed funeral according to their customs. The Muslims made a grave of Baba Guru Nanak while the Sikhs raised a Samadhi.
At Gurudwara Darbar Sahib the visitors can see both the grave and the Samadhi. Nanak was survived by two sons, Sheri Chand and Lakshmi Das, whose descendants known as Bedhi live in India. A number of local Muslims will also offer Fateha at his grave.
