Amritsar, Punjab (March 10, 2013): According to media reports the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) has decided to construct a serai or niwas for Afghan Sikh families, who were reportedly displaced from Afghanistan following the internal strife in that country.
Afghan Sikhs
“Over the last 20-22 years, a large number of Sikhs and their families have left Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan and settled down in India, with the majority of them being in Delhi. Considering the fact that many of them often come to the Golden Temple to pay obeisance, the SGPC decided to build a serai exclusively for their stay” reports Hindustan Times (HT).
As per information the serai will come up at Lakshmansar Chowk in the vicinity of the Darbar Sahib.
“The foundation stone of the serai was laid by Harmandar Sahib head granthi Giani Mal Singh and granthi Ravel Singh, along with SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar and others” reports HT.
Besides the basement, the serai will be a five-storeyed building with 64 rooms. While other pilgrims will be allowed to stay at this serai, those from Afghanistan will be given preference.
SGPC President S. Avtar Singh Makkar reportedly said in this regard that while work on this serai would begin soon, the construction work on Saragarhi Serai was in full swing.
This will be a 10-storeyed resthouse. He said that another resthouse for pilgrims would come up at the spot where Guru Nanak Girls School is presently located, just opposite the Kotwali. The school will be shifted to its new premises near Ghee Mandi Chowk.