CHHOTA MARVA,

CHHOTA MARVA, a village about 6 km to the west of Bilaspur in Ambala district of Haryana, has a historical shrine known as Gurdwara Golpur Sahib dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh. While at Kapal Mochan near Bilaspur in 1688, Guru Gobind Singh often went out on the chase. During one such excursion, his hawk named Golla strayed and perched on the top of a tree in this village. Some Sikhs followed and tried to induce the hawk to return but the bird would not respond.

Ultimately, the Guru himself went and called the hawk using endearing names, “Golla, Bholla,” and asking it not to turn away from his master. The hawk immediately came down and alighted on the Guru`s wrist. A small Manji Sahib, a domed hut hardly three metres across, constructed in memory of Guru Gobind Singh`s visit and named after his hawk, still exists in an orchard, half a kilometre northeast of the village. Inside is seated the Guru Granth Sahib. A square divan hall, with a wide verandah in the front, was added during the late 1970`s. Birthday anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh is celebrated on a large scale. Devotees gather from the surrounding villages, there being very few Sikh families in Chhota Marva itself.