Golden Temple is a unique building, which hypnotizes any photographer or visitor of any religion or nation; its mesmerizing, bewitching, spellbinding, magnetizing, enthralling – I can go on till I exhaust my own vocabulary and that of the entire universe. Trust me, a visit to Golden Temple is a soul stirring experience of life time. Whenever I go there and I see any `first time visitor’ to Golden Temple, I see them gasping with reverence at the main entrance gate itself. Where almost all first timers just stop and love to absorb the first glimpses. Trust me, it’s that life time moment and experience, which is hard to forget. Once you have entered the Golden Temple complex, then you are disconnected with the outside world, most people wish if they could spend all their lifetime there and would be very happy to involve with `kar seva’ (anykind of service for cleaning of floor, utensils, Langar – the holy kitchen). All visitors, known as Sangat at Gurudwaras, sit around the holy Sarovar (water tank) `parikrama’ (the banks and the path to complete a circle around Golden Temple) and listen to Shabads of Gurubani. The tranquility is spellbinding for the soul.

The regular visitors, mostly local Sangat, who visit Golden Temple, everyday before they begin for their daily chore, stop at the entrance point after descending the first flight of steps. I see God on the faces of the Sangat which stops at this point, they stand with their eyes closed and hands folded, murmuring words to endorse their wishes and repentance for their sins. I think, they beg to God to forgive them for the sins they did the previous day, lest He punishes.  How silly we are, majority of  us forget the right way, I think, its to ask for `Satbudhi’ (wisdom to think the right way). If we are blessed with `Satbudhi’ then we will not do anything wrong and no fear of punishment by God. I am sure, this world of `devotees seeking blessings and making wishes’ must be having quite an amazing spectrum of desires of human beings. Most of us, go there and beg for all the niceties of life, comforts, blessings for anything which can make people comfortable and happy and leaders to make other jealous and envious of us. May be, I am no exception to join this practice, I do beg to Him. I do not know whether my wishes are right, I ask to bless me with plenty of `Satbudhi’ to be a good human being, give me work, will to work, keep me honest, keep me healthy to do my work, I assure You that I will work and I am sure You will take care of me. A good religious preaching by spiritual teachers is that if you have faith in Him and yourself, then no need to even utter a word, He will take care, He knows. The root cause of all the troubles to our own life is that we do not have faith in anything, we are always worried and keep making calculations and make wrong projections to ourselves and thus majority are utterly unhappy.

One day, on one of my photography visits to the Golden Temple, I noticed people were in direct communication with God for those few moments, I think, He must be allowing these kind of calls at this spot. As you can see a different expression on the faces of people for these few moments. Some rub their head and some their nose on the floor, to please Him. They are `in trance’ for few moments. I wish people could carry these moments with them home and remain with these expressions all the day, this world could have been a heaven. I love capturing these expressions with my camera now.

My experience as a photographer at Golden Temple, has been unmatched by any other place on this earth. What I enjoy, apart from the solacing atmosphere, is no restrictions of any sort on anyone, can you believe this! Anyone can enter anytime of 24 hours, no restrictions as long as you respect the basics of visiting any Gurudwara i.e. cover your head, no shoes or socks, etc. Its such a free world at the Golden Temple – total freedom – as long as you are within `maryada’ – the norms. There is no pressure of anykind on anyone to make anykind of offerings, if wish to make then there is no specifications on miimum or maximum. On my travels, I have experienced some nasty things about offerings at religious places. At the Golden Temple, you are free to visit any place of worship, no bar based on caste, creed, colour, religion, etc. Whenever, I have requested any devotee to consent me for a photograph, they happily agree.

How lucky are the  denizens of Amritsar! We all may think that they all visit everyday. Alas, we all falter!

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What I know and can say about the Sikhs is that they are an unparallel race on this earth. Sikhs are the most brave and bold people, full of pride and self-esteem, most warm and kind hearted of all, uniquely handsome with their attire, well built; all this makes them unique. The self-esteem and pride is unmatched – you will never find a Sikh beggar on roads. They are the best when you request them for a photograph, no questions asked from photographers and ever-willing to be photographed with smile on their face.

The Sikh soldiers enjoy very special place in the Indian army, they are known as the `THE BRAVEST OF BRAVE’ and have the highest gallantry awards to their honour, won in all the battle field. The stories of Sikh gallantry are unmatched in the world. Though, I did not serve with Sikh troops, but had close interaction with them in Sri Lanka, where I served as an IPKF member for 18 months. They were bold like no one ! Their military history is full of unmatched valour and grit.  Their contribution to the British Empire, as soldiers is very much appreciated by the British, even today.

They are traditionally generous to travellers and there is no bar to caste and creed or religion, when it comes to hosting a traveller. Though, materialism and modern `rat race’ have taken its toll of that unique feature of Sikhs to great extent in modern times. If one is travelling and finds a Gurudwara (Sikh temple), and one needs shelter and food even at odd hours, just walk in and you will be welcome to be their guest. I have never enjoyed photographing any other place as much as I have at the Golden Temple; its open 24 hours, no restrictions, free kitchen, cleanliness of the highest grade, water, bathrooms, rooms to stay, etc. Since, Sikhs are very prone to political interference in their religious places as well. Most political parties reach the people of Punjab via religion and have political offices in Gurudwaras.  Off late, when I went to Golden Temple, I was shocked to face the irrational restriction for the use of tripods in Golden Temple, which is really sad.

Sikhs are workaholic, this trait has made them the most successful farmers in India and have proved it even overseas. They believe in this philosophy `work like a horse and enjoy like a king’. Also, they have acumen as transporters and they dominate transport business all over the country, they are leaders in the automobile spare-parts business as well. They are bold to explore any place on earth to make wealth.

The biggest worry of the custodians of this religion is that young generations are diluting the values which were well guarded for centuries. The menace of drugs is engulfing the health of youth in Punjab, which is affecting Sikhs as well. It has lead the youth to be casual towards values and respect for the teachings of their Gurus.

They are very interesting people to know, till you do not get on to their wrong side !!!

DISCLAIMER : This post is NOT to promote or support any religion. Sikhs are like any other subject to me, as a photographer. I have not written anything about religion here, so NO controversies please. These are my own views. Do not try to dig things out of a mole hill. All religions are respect worthy. My religion is ONLY to be a `good human-being’.

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