Gurta Gaddi

The Sikh Guru, Gobind Singhji, came to Nanded in Maharashtra to get the Marathas to ally with him in fighting the tyranny of Aurangzeb the Mughal emperor. Unfortunately, the Guru was attacked and died of severe injuries in his back. He was just 42.
However, before he passed away, he ordained that there-after there would be no mortal Guru for the Sikhs. Instead, they would follow the teaching of the Guru Granth Sahib. This consecration of the Guru Granth Sahib as the perennial Guru is called 'Gurta Gaddi'. Nanded, therefore, is an emotion-laden place for the Sikhs and for all those who revere the Gurus.
It was 300 years ago in Oct' 1708 that Guru Gobind Singhji ordained this. The Sikhs are jubilant that this is the first centennial celebration of Gurta Gaddi to occur in free India, for, in the first 100 years since the Holy Book's consecration, the Sikhs fought the Mughals. Then came the British.
Of the 20 million Sikhs all over the world, at least 2.5 million, are expected to pay homage at Nanded this week.