Capt Amarinder urges Odisha CM to reverse decision to demolish Mangu Mutt

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 14

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday wrote to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik urging the latter to retract his government’s decision to demolish Mangu Mutt, a shrine Sikhs consider significant.

Amarinder Singh has called Patnaik government’s decision to have the Mutt demolished to make way for a heritage corridor “unfortunate”.

Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh guru, is believed to have visited Mangu Mutt, to spread the message of one supreme reality.

“It was shocking that while the whole world was getting ready to commemorate the 550th Prakash Purb of the first Sikh Guru, the historically important Mutt, a symbol of the connection between Sikhism and the Jagannath Temple, was sought to be demolished by the Odisha government,” said Captain Amarinder.

Media reports suggest the Odisha government had decided to demolish the Mutt to build a heritage corridor within 75 metres of ‘Meghanad Prachir’ of the Jagannath Temple.

Set up in 1615 by Bhai Almast, a Sikh preacher and head of Dhuari of the Udasi Sect, the Mangu Mutt was also visited by Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1670. The eldest son of Guru Hargobind, Baba Gurditta, had chosen Bhai Almast to disseminate Guru Nanak’s message.

Besides, the Mutt was the abode of the Nanak Panthis, who were primarily responsible for taking Jagannath culture to North India. The image of Baba Shri Chand, Guru Nanak’s son, is kept in the shrine inside the mutt.