Nestled some 30 kilometres from Ludhiana, Gurdwara Patshahi 6th and 10th, popularly known as Katana Sahib, stands as a living testament to the rich tapestry of Sikh heritage. Each year, thousands of pilgrims converge on this tranquil complex—drawn by its storied past, its sacred Beri tree, and the belief that heartfelt prayers here bring divine fulfilment.
Local tradition holds that Guru Hargobind Sahib first graced this site in 1670 CE, arriving in martial splendour with seven guns and a retinue of 1,100 cavalry. Among his company was Chandu Kaidi, the very jailer implicated in the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Legend further recounts that the Guru bore with him a “chola” (cloak) woven with 52 silken cords—the same garment that miraculously aided in freeing 52 Sikh prisoners from Gwalior Fort. That night, he tethered his steed to a wild berry tree—henceforth revered as Beri Sahib—and rested under its spreading branches.
Decades later, in Vikram Samvat 1761 (circa 1704 CE), Guru Gobind Singh Ji also sought respite here. Accompanied by stalwarts such as Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Maan Singh, Bhai Nabi Khan, and Bhai Ghani Khan, the Tenth Master paused under the very same Beri tree. It is said that he personally ladled out steaming “degh” (sweet gruel) to the gathered faithful—a gesture of compassion that led to the shrine’s alternative name, Gurdwara Deghsar Sahib. To this day, devotees return their vows fulfilled by offering degh in gratitude.
In 1854, British engineers surveying the fertile plains intended to fell the ancient Beri Sahib to make way for the Sirhind Canal. When Engineer Smith swung his axe, locals later recounted, crimson sap welled from the wound—and Smith’s sight inexplicably failed. Humbled, he is said to have apologized before the tree and donated fifty-one rupees’ worth of degh, whereupon his vision was restored. The canal’s course was then altered, sparing the hallowed landmark.
Today, the Gurdwara Management Committee, led by Narinderjit Singh, maintains a steady flow of worshippers. “Every Sangrānt—the first day of each month in the Nanakshahi calendar—and on Sundays, the courtyard throngs with devotees,” Singh notes. “People come with prayers heavy in their hearts, certain that here their wishes will be answered.”
For Ludhiana resident Lakhwinder Singh, Katana Sahib is a fortnightly retreat. “From the moment you step through the gate, a profound stillness settles over you,” he says. “We sit for hours under the Beri tree, breathing in its history and serenity.”
As the sun sets behind the gurdwara’s gleaming white dome, families offer their final prayers of the day. In the gentle rustle of the Beri’s leaves and the echo of kirtan drifting over the fields, the legacy of both the Sixth and Tenth Gurus lives on—rooted in faith, woven into every string of the sacred chola, and sheltered by the enduring Beri Sahib.
