The holiest of Sikh shrines, Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as Golden Temple, was lighted up Thursday in festive spirit in this Sikh holy city in Punjab.Fireworks display and millions of lights around the whole complex saw thousands of devotees turning up for the occasion.The day is celebrated in the Sikh religion as 'Bandi Chhor Diwas' (prisoner liberation day).
On this day, the sixth guru of the Sikhs, Guru Hargobind, returned to Amritsar after being released along with 52 princes from imprisonment by Mughal emperor Jahangir from Gwalior prison in 1619.The guru and the princes arrived in Amritsar during Diwali festivities. Since then, the Bandi Chhor Diwas and Diwali celebrations coincide at the Golden Temple complex.Hundreds of devotees could be seen lined up since Thursday morning to offer prayers at the shrine.The renovated plaza around the famous Sikh shrine was thrown open for the public Wednesday.Elsewhere in Punjab, markets wore a festive look on the occasion of Diwali. Hundreds of people thronged various markets in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and other towns.The festival spirit for Diwali could also be seen in Chandigarh and towns and cities in Haryana.