Ram Rai (1646–1687), the elder son of Guru Har Rai, was born on 11 March 1646 in Kiratpur. Well-versed in sacred teachings and skilled in arms, he was sent by his father to represent him before Emperor Aurangzeb in 1661.
To please the Emperor, Răm Rãi altered a verse from the Guru Granth Sahib, which angered the Sikh community.
Guru Har Rãi excommunicated him, leading Răm Rãi to settle in the Dun Valley, where he established a dera with imperial support.
This led to the name Dehradun.
Despite preaching Guru Nanak’s teachings, most Sikhs shunned him. He met Guru Gobind Singh in Pãonta and died on 4 September 1687.
( information from CONCISE ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF SIKHISM ed by HARBANS SINGH)
His durbar and samadhi were profusely decorated with wall murals and have become a treasure trove of visual history of that period as well as a couple of centuries after that since the mahant’s building was made & painted in mid 19th century.
The wall paintings of Shri Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib in Dehradun are a remarkable blend of artistic styles and cultural influences, reflecting the historical and spiritual significance of the site.
On his birthday an annual fair called Jhanda mela is held where a A 27-meter-long sal tree is prepared and wrapped in muslin cloth for the ceremonial flag hoisting at Jhanda Sahib. Devotees tie scarves to the flagpole as offerings for fulfilled wishes.
I was fortunate to be there.
It is also represented in a mural near the entrance of the durbar.
The wall paintings of Shri Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib in Dehradun are a remarkable blend of artistic styles and cultural influences, reflecting the historical and spiritual significance of the site. Located in the heart of Dehradun, this Sikh gurudwara, established in the 17th century by Guru Ram Rai, features murals that adorn its walls, domes, and ceilings, offering a visual narrative of the guru’s life, times, and the rich traditions of the region.
These murals are a fusion of Mughal, Kangra, and Rajasthani painting styles, infused with a distinct Garhwali flavor. They were primarily created by Tulsi Ram Mistri, the chief artisan of the Darbar, whose self-portrait can still be seen near the entrance gate.
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