Chandigarh
17 October 2024
DIVYA AZAD
In a tech-driven world where spirituality meets innovation, Sikh pilgrims now have an incredible new tool to enhance their journeys. Narinder Singh Bhangu, a visionary resident of Mohali, has unveiled “Historical Gurudwaras,” a mobile app designed to transform how devotees experience Sikh sacred sites across India. With integrated Google Maps navigation, in-depth historical narratives, and vibrant imagery, the app makes spiritual travel easier, more insightful, and deeply engaging.
For over 18 years, Narinder Singh, aged 49, has devoted himself to visiting 1,225 Gurdwaras across the country, collecting detailed information, verifying local histories, and ensuring each site’s story is accurately preserved. His goal? To bridge the gap between tradition and technology, making Sikh history accessible to all.
A Journey of Devotion and Dedication
This app is much more than a navigation tool – it’s the result of nearly two decades of passion and perseverance. Since 2006, Narinder Singh has traveled the length and breadth of India, painstakingly documenting every historical and spiritual nuance of the Gurdwaras he visited. The result is a digital platform that offers users an immersive, authentic experience as they explore these sites.
Exclusive Insights from Renowned Historians
Adding depth and scholarly richness to the app, “Historical Gurudwaras” features exclusive content from Bhai Nishan Singh Ji of Australia. Through video narratives, he brings the history and significance of each Gurdwara to life, shedding light on overlooked details and hidden relics, and offering a deeper understanding of Sikh heritage.
User-Friendly, Multilingual, and Location-Based
Designed for accessibility, the app is available in English, and will be soon available in Punjabi, and Hindi, making it approachable for devotees, researchers, and curious travelers alike. One of its standout features is its ability to provide real-time suggestions for nearby historical Gurdwaras, ensuring that users never miss an opportunity to connect with Sikh history, no matter where they are.
Looking Beyond Borders: Expanding the Sikh Historical Map
Narinder Singh’s ambitions extend beyond India’s borders. Future updates to the app will include Sikh historical sites from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and beyond, tracing the journeys of Sikh gurus and heroes like Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Baba Deep Singh Ji. His vision is to map every corner of the Sikh diaspora, ensuring no sacred site is forgotten.
A Call to Scholars and Historians
While “Historical Gurudwaras” already boasts a wealth of meticulously researched content, Narinder Singh welcomes collaboration with Sikh scholars, historians, and researchers. He envisions the app as a living document that continues to grow with contributions from experts, ensuring that the legacy of Sikhism remains vibrant and well-preserved for future generations.
Whether you’re a devotee seeking spiritual insight, a historian eager to dive into Sikh culture, or a traveler looking to enrich your journey, the “Historical Gurudwaras” app offers a revolutionary way to connect with the sacred sites of Sikhism. It’s more than just an app – it’s a celebration of faith, history, and heritage, right at your fingertips.
Among prominent present there were, Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, MP; Bhai Jasvir Singh, Mai Desan ji, Bathinda; Jathedar Baba Joga Singh ji, Misl Shadeedan Tarna Dal; Tarsem Singh, father of Bhai Amritpal Singh Khalsa, MP; and Ajay Pal Singh Brar, President Misl Satluj.
