Lone Sikh family rebuilds Gurdwara Sri Kalghidhar Singh Sabha in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba

DEVI DEHRA (CHAMBA): In the tranquil, lesser-known village of Devi Dehra in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, a single Sikh family, comprising fewer than ten members, established the remarkable Gurdwara Sri Kalghidhar Singh Sabha. A Nishan Sahib flutters proudly on a pole outside the Gurdwara, symbolising their faith.
With profound devotion, the family performs all sacred rituals, from the morning Parkash (opening) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib to the evening Sukhasan (closing) ceremony. Over time, the Gurdwara began to draw attention, attracting tourists who pause their journeys to pay obeisance and immerse themselves in the spiritual serenity of this sacred space.
"My father, Attar Singh, held a sacred vision of establishing a Gurdwara at this very site," informed Gurnam Singh, a senior member of the family, adding, "In the late 1970s, my father embarked on this noble endeavour with full dedication and was successful in raising a structure using steel sheets."
He informed that his grandfather, Chattar Singh, migrated to Devi Dehra from Parachinar city of the Kurram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan during the Indo-Pak partition. Tragically, during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Gurdwara became a target of hate-driven violence, and the cherished structure was cruelly razed to the ground.
“With the heartfelt support of the locals, we formed a dedicated committee to chart the path for rebuilding the Gurdwara. Through the generosity of benevolent donors, we began the task of reconstructing it, brick by brick, and today, the Gurdwara stands tall with pride, which is also a symbol of our collective strength and devotion,” said Gurnam.
Gurnam, a former soldier, runs a garment shop while his brother, Manmohan Singh, runs a cosmetic shop, both situated adjacent to the Gurdwara. Exemplifying true religious harmony, their family wholeheartedly engages in Hindu ceremonies, with Gurnam himself masterfully playing the harmonium during the vibrant Ram Leela celebrations.
He informed that the family devotedly conducts all sacred rituals for Sri Guru Granth Sahib, from Parkash to Sukhasan, and has also engaged a Granthi to support these practices.
He said that, with time, both local residents and visiting tourists pause at the Gurdwara to pay homage and offer their prayers in reverence. Through the heartfelt donations offered by devotees, they sustain the Granthi's livelihood, he added.