BASALI, village about 20 km southwest of Kiratpur (31° ll`N, 76° 35`E) in Ropar district of the Punjab, has a historical shrine, Gurdwara Guru Chaunki Jhira Sahib, dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh who after the battle ofNirmohgarh in October 1700 stayed here for several days at the invitation of

CHAUNKI or Chauki, lit. quarter, a four footed wooden platform upon which sat the holy choir to recite the sacred hymns in a gurdwara or at a gathering of the devotees. The term chaunki also refers to a session of kirtan or hymn singing, the number of singers at such