Amritsar: Honouring a bond that dates back more than 550 years, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has approved a monthly financial assistance of Rs 21,000 for the descendants of Bhai Mardana, Guru Nanak Dev’s lifelong companion whose rabab accompanied the Sikh Guru on his spiritual journeys.The family, now living in Pakistan, continues to preserve the centuries-old tradition of Sikh devotional music (kirtan). The monthly assistance will be provided from the SGPC’s Dharam Prachar Committee funds.An SGPC spokesperson said members of a Sikh pilgrims’ delegation (jatha) that recently visited Pakistan handed over a separate financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to Bhai Lal, a descendant of Bhai Mardana, and his family. The delegation included SGPC member Khushwinder Singh Bhatia, Harjinder Kaur and SGPC deputy secretary Azaddeep Singh.Azaddeep Singh said the jatha had travelled to Pakistan to mark the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The SGPC also presented seven Nishan Sahib cholas to the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for installation at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, the samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and other historic Sikh shrines.Bhatia also honoured Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Ramesh Singh Arora, other office-bearers and officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board with traditional shawls (lois), kirpans and siropas.
