Guru Ravidass' village gearing up to welcome tourists
by Sawinder Singh
Khurali
(Hoshiarpur): Guru Ravidass is today remembered as
one of the first social reformers who objected to caste-based
discrimination that existed in Indian society during 16th
century. Ravidass's endeavour influenced a lot of people,
who were motivated to raise their voice against the discrimination
and looked up to him as their Guru, the master. The places
visited by Guru Ravidas as a tribute have now become pilgrimage
centres. Thirty five miles from Hoshiarpur city, Khurali
Village is gearing up to welcome tourists. Khurali holds
great religious significance, as it is said Guru Ravidass
visited the place and stayed here between circa 1515-19.
The Guru, who dedicated his life to betterment of the
society and in bringing the equality, has been a source
of inspiration to the villagers. But, Ravidass belonged
to a low caste and it caused problems with some people
of the higher caste. It is said he was even jailed and
punished. According to Dr. Kewal Kumar, a researcher on
religion, the place is linked to a sorry tale of Guru
Ravidass. "This spot, where we are standing, was the residence
of Dhanna and Devia, the guards. Ravidassji stayed here
with these two Sikhs. But when the ruler of this region
became aware of Guru Ravidass Ji's Punjab visit, he sent
two soldiers to arrest him. The King locked Guru Ravidass
and made and him to grind wheat into flour with this flourmill.
He king punished Guru Ravidass because the latter being
a `Shudra' (low caste), was posing as a guru. The king
was against a low caste person becoming a guru of the
rich people," said Dr. Kewal Kumar, a researcher on religion.
The
Union ministry of Tourism is now planning to develop Khurali
as a tourist destination as a tribute to the great saint
of medieval India. A Gurudwara has been built at the place
where Guru Ravidass stayed and meditated. It's a 320,000
dollars project and will include build infrastructure
including Display Hall cum Tourist Facilitation Centre,
Tourist Reception Centre and Washrooms. "People get their
wishes fulfilled. We come here with great devotion and
belief, and all wishes are fulfilled. A mile-and-half
away from here is the Charan Ganga rivulet where devotees
a take bath to get rid of their problems," said Paramjit
Singh, a devotee. "To popularize rural tourism, rural
tourist destination for khurali, ministry of tourism,
government of India has sanctioned 159.57 lacs, to construct
a reception hall-cum-museum or tourist affiliation centre,
so that khurali village becomes popular among tourists,"
said R. K. Bhatti, Asst. Director with Ministry of Tourism,
Govt. of India. The tourism project will provide create
better roads as well as other infrastructure development
in the area. The women and unemployed youth will also
get self-employment opportunities in tourism support activities
such as lodging, cuisine and guiding.
-Jan
28, 2009
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