Amritsar, Oct 23 (PTI) Thousands of devotees today paid obeisance in the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple on the occasion of Diwali.
Devotees started to queue up since early morning at 2.30 AM to pay obeisance in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple and at Akal Takht (Highest Sikh Temporal Seat).
At 3.30 AM, the look of illuminated Golden Temple was enormously wonderful due to the lighting arrangements.
Arrangements for bursting of crackers was also made around the sanctum sanctorum for evening.
Before paying obeisance in the Golden Temple devotees took holy dip in the pond of Temple with a belief 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.
Elaborate arrangement for Langar (community kitchen) was made 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 provide sense of security in the minds of the visiting devotees.
According to SGPC the significance of Diwali festival manager of the Golden Temple said that on the same day in 1620, sixth Sikh 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 the Guru 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.
To mark this, the entire city was illuminated and tastefully decorated.
