I didn't make it to Bangla Sahib on my recent trip to India, but I made it there on my first trip to India which was April-May of 2002. These pictures bring back memories. I remember it was late May just before I left to go back home and it was soooooo hot! Walking to the Gurdwara barefoot my feet got burned on the ground. I remember the day I left Delhi it was like 46 Celsius during the day and my first night back in New Mexico it was like 36 Farenhiet during the night.

The Problem with Gurudwara Prabandhaks is that they are very much fond of Marble floors every where. Trees are just cut ruthlessly and gardens are converted into sparkling marble floors.All this is in general causing global warming and specifically the marble floor gets heated up when enviromental temperature shoots up.
I had been visiting Gurudwara Bangla Sahib since my childhood.There used be many trees and a beautiful park in front as well as behind it.Unfortunetly all have vanished. During summers visiting Gurudwara burns your feet as early as 9am.
I get very much troubled by this destruction of vegetation.We all should work together for the restoration of trees and lawns in Gurudwaras(in India at least, as I am not aware of other places)

My dad who lives in New Delhi, used to tell me when I was in my teens that when he was a teenager, the buses used to pass right in front of the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, where there are stairs now to enter the Gurdwara and it was a road where there is scooter parking lot now. I think it must have been late 50’s early 60’s he must be talking about. All my life when I was in India, I used to visit Gurdwara Bangla Sahib very frequently (in the 90’s) until in 1998 when I moved to Canada.

Over the period of time, the Gurdwara management has to keep up with the remodeling and restructuring of the compound to accommodate the vast number of people visiting the Gurdwara. In that even they utilized the land surrounding the gurdwara to build new structures, bought the school adjacent to the Gurdwara to expand the Darbar Hall. When I last visited in 2003, there was a multi level underground parking being built in front of the Gurdwara. It is good that the Gurdwara management is keeping pace with the changing time and taking action to get ready for the future. According to my Dad, in 50’s and 60’s it was a whole lot greener than it was in 80’s and 90’s when I started going to the Gurdwara. And I guess I’ll say the same that it was a lot greener in 80’s and 90’s than it is now. The floor outside the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and around the Sarovar in early 90’s was mostly made of Black marble (as it was not that bad during that time)and as Gurdwara management were aware of the fact that Black marble gets really very hot, they have now changed it to mostly white marble. But it is still hot and I agree with this fact, but they have done their best. I have also seen sevadars spraying buckets of water on the floor around the Sarovar and at the entrance of the Darbad Hall to keep it cool. In order for people to prevent from slipping they have put rugs on which people walk.

But it is not just the loss of greenery due to the expansion of Gurdwara that is contributing to the rising temperatures in Delhi. Look at the large amount of construction going on to reap the profits by selling those new flats, shops and houses. Look at the amount of motor vehicles people drive in there. All are not as per the pollution standards operable. People get their vehicle certified and get the pollution under control certificate for a small amount without fixing the problem. There are industries that do not follow the pollution control board (PCB) recommendations. They still use the old methods for manufacturing goods there by polluting the environment by emission of controlled gasses and other by products dumped in the water. Officials from PCB when go about inspecting, you know what happens… bribes and all…. They have been able to close a lot of such industries, but still a lot are out there polluting…

My point is it is good that Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and other Gurdwaras are keeping pace with the increasing numbers of devotees by making suitable changes and new construction. Yes, in that event, they should also replace at least some of the trees that they cut. But I see it this way that it is a lot better than downtowns of a lot of cities in the world, where you cant even have a look at any natural vegetation. It is all concrete jungle. Again, these are my views and I'm not arguing on any thing.

Delhi is in bad shape!I am not blaming Gurudwaras for the entire thing.But we must try to minimise the damage. As per teachings of Gurbani we must preserve nature.We can grow more trees at places possible.Thanks for your concern.

Penjee...

When I wrote the above response, whole life of mine that I spent in India went in front of my eyes and now I am desperate to come to India to do darshan of the Saadh Sangat and the Guru Aasthans. I have a special attachment with Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. I hope with SatGuru's blessings, I can come this year as it will be almost 3 yrs when I was there last...

Thanks for the pictures and your posts...

I can understand your feelings. When I was away from Delhi for 21 yrs I felt the same!When I was very much depressed one day and went to local gurudwara & did ardas guru bestowed following hukumnama -
nak nath khasam hath kirat Dhakay day.
jahaa daanay tahaaN khaanay naankaa sach hay. ||2||(SGGS-653)
So we have to live where he keeps us.God bless you! Do visit us when you are in Delhi.