Historical gurdwara on Lahore's Temple Road reopens first time since Partition

<p>LAHORE: The historical Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib on Temple Road, Mozang, which had been closed since the Partition, was reopened here on Sunday after completion of its restoration. The Evacuee Trust Property Board, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and the Punjab government held a joint ceremony to mark its reopening after 79 years.</p> <p>A good number of members of the Sikh community, Punjab minorities minister and PSGPC president Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Secretary Nasir Mushtaq, Nasir Mushtaq, Deputy Secretary Shrines Usman Khan, Deputy Secretary General Saadat Shehbaz and other officials attended the event.</p> <p>The gurdwara is associated with the visit of Guru Hargobind Sahib to Lahore. Guru Hargobind (1595 – 1644) was the sixth of the 10 gurus of Sikhism, celebrated as a warrior-saint who transformed the Sikh community to defend against religious oppression.</p> <p>According to Sikh historical accounts, Guru Hargobind Sahib accepted an invitation from the local Sikh congregation (Sangat) and stayed for three days at the residence of Bhai Jiwan, a devotee, in Mozang area which was on the outskirts of Lahore. Overwhelmed by the honour of hosting the Guru, Bhai Jiwan converted his house into a gurdwara.</p> <p>The shrine also has a historical association with Bhai Bidhi Chand, who made two celebrated visits to Lahore to retrieve two horses, named Dilbagh and Gulbagh, seized by the then Mughal governor of Lahore (either Khalil Beg or Qasim Beg) from a devotee who had intended to present them to Guru Hargobind Sahib. He successfully recaptured the horses from the royal stable in the Lahore Fort. Bhai Bidhi Chand stayed at this place during his visits to recapture the horses.</p> <p>In 1915, the local Sikh congregation extended the gurdwara’s hall. Following allegations of misconduct by Mahant Hari Singh, the Sangat took over its management in 1921 and formed a local committee.</p> <p>The old building of Gurdwara was established in 1926 through the efforts of Sardar Mehar Singh. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) assumed administrative control of the shrine in 1927. The original gurdwara building was constructed during Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s period. The Partition in 1947 brought an end to regular Sikh worship at the shrine.</p> <p>Speaking on the occasion, Minister Arora said the restoration of the historic shrine had been completed and it was now open for religious worship for the Sikh community.</p> <p>“More than 50 gurdwaras across Pakistan are currently undergoing renovation as a part of efforts to preserve Sikh religious heritage and to facilitate pilgrims,” he added.</p> <p>ETPB Secretary Nasir Mushtaq said the restoration and reopening of Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi was aimed at providing better facilities to the Sikh community for worship while safeguarding Lahore’s historical and religious heritage for future generations.</p> <p>“Protection of religious places of worship belonging to the Sikh and Hindu communities is one of its foremost responsibilities and restoration of Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi is an important step in this regard,” he said and appreciated the valuable contributions of Giani Balwant Singh and PSGPC Committee member Professor Dr Mampal Singh in the restoration of the gurdwara.</p> <p>Mr Mushtaq said the shrines department would continue its efforts to restore historical gurdwaras and temples.</p> <p><em>Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2026</em></p>