September 20, 2024

Why are there no Langars at Har Ki Pauri , Haridwar ?

Even the simplest of Sikh Gurudwaras take great satisfaction in serving free meals.
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Some time back when I took my father's ashes to Haridwar
 
Priest ; Kya tum apne Pita ji ki koi gold ki cheej Laaye ho 

My answer ; Kya mai n kissi Sunaar ke paas aaya hoon. 
 
Agar aisey maangna hai toh main Pita ji ke phool Ganga ji mein khud daal ke wapis chala jaaunga
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Lest We Forget - 19 th Century 's Great and Devout Donor For Haridwar Pilgrims .
 
When I was young , I remember reading an old inscription ( near enclosed Zenana Ghats ) at the upstream end of Har ki Pauri , Haridwar.
 
The inscription was about when in 19 th century authorities imposed a Pilgrim tax of One Anna on every pilgrim visiting the Holy city of Haridwar .
 
This greatly upset a devout wealthy Hindu business man of that time. He vowed to undertake the responsibility on himself of paying the Pilgrim tax of all pilgrims and for all times to come .
So , he paid a sum of Rs. One Lakh ( a princely sum then ) in return for a promise that never again would any tax be imposed on the Pilgrims visiting Haridwar.
 
It seems the ever voracious tax collecting authorities ( not sparing even pilgrims and disregarding the solemn promise given to the great Donor ) deliberately first, shifted the inscription plate to a secluded place away from public gaze and then may have removed it altogether

 

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