Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib
Situated in Anandpur Sahib, Takht Shri Keshgarh sahib is the birth place of the Khalsa Panth. The tenth guru of Sikhs, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, initiated the Khalsa Panth, when he prepared the holy water “Amrit” and baptized the Panj-Pyaras, after which the guru himself got baptized by the Panj Pyaras.
It was the eve of Baisakhi in 1699, when the people were gathered at the fort of Keshgarh Sahib, to celebrate Baisakhi, when Guru Gobind Singh Ji along with a sword in his hand addressed the gathering saying that they all are dear to him, but he wants a head of a devotee and asked people for a volunteer. At that moment, Daya Ram, a Khatri of Lahore, arose and offered himself to the Guru. He walked behind the Guru to a tent near by.
Guru Gobind Singh returned with his sword dripping blood and demanded another head. This time Dharam Singh, a Chamar from Hastinapur, presented himself to the Guru. Like this Guru Gobind Singh made three more calls, which where responded by Mohkam Chand, a calico printer/tailor from Dwarka, Himmat Rai, a water-bearer from Jagannath Puri, and Sahib Chand, a barber from Bidar respectively.
The disciples wore saffron-coloured raiment topped over with neatly tied turbans of the same colour. Guru Gobind Singh, similarly dressed, introduced his chosen Sikhs to the audience as Panj Pyare, the five devoted spirits beloved of the Guru.
After which he performed the ceremony of preparing the holy water, as he kept churning it with a khanda, i.e. double-edged sword, while reciting over it the sacred verses.
Later the Panj Pyare were baptized with “Amrit” afer which Guru Gobind Singh Ji were baptized by the Panj Pyare and became Gobind Singh from Gobind Rai.
Some of the weapons of Guru Gobind Singh are displayed in Keshgarh Sahib.
