GAHAL

GAHAL (locally pronounced Gailh), village on the right bank of the Bathinda branch of Sirhind Canal, 30 km north of Barnala (30°22`N, 75°32`E) in Sangrur district of the Punjab, is sacred to Guru Har Rai (1630-61), who once made a brief halt here during his travels in the Malva country. Gurdwara Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Patshahl VII, situated in a spacious compound in the northeastern part of the village, comprises a square sanctum, with a domed room above it and a hall in front. The Gurdwara is endowed with landed property and is administered by the Shiromam Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee through a local committee.

During the Vadda Ghallughara or the Great Holocaust of 5 February 1762, the badly mauled, yet unvanquished, Sikh column is said to have passed through Gahal on its way to Barnala. A memorial shrine in honour of the Ghallughara martyrs has beenraised in the Gurdwara compound. Sant Channan Singh, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, laid, on 22 February 1967, the cornerstone of the building which was completed in May 1971.

References :

1. Tara Singh, Sri Cur Tirath Sangrahi. Amritsar, n.d.
2. Thakar Singh, Giani, Sri Gurdwara Darshan. Amritsar, 1923