Gurudwara Reetha Sahib, Reetha

Gurdwara Reetha Sahib - is only 60 kms. by flying distance in the north of Nanak Mata, but the distance by motorable road is 209 kms. It is 166 kms. from Tanakpur, the last railway station on Bareilly-Tanakpur section. Here, too, Guru Nanak Dev had an encounter with Nath yogis whom he tried to bring to the path of active humanitarian service along with remembrance of God's Name. The story is not mentioned in Janamsakhis, but a strong tradition has grown that here Guru Nanak Dev miraculously made the normally bitter fruit of a soapnut tree sweet for Bhai Mardana to feed on. A soapnut tree (not the original one) is still there and pilgrims are given prasad of sweet soapnuts. However, the common belief that the nuts only of one branch, under which the Guru had sat, are sweet is not true. Nor are all the nuts given as prasad yielded by this one tree. About ten kilometers from the Grudwara, there is a tract of land where such trees are grown and their fruit is collected and brought to replenish the Gurdwara's stock of prasad. It is called Nanak Bagichi (lit. Nanak's garden). Gurudwara Sri Reetha Sahib is sitauted in the Reetha Sahib Village Distt Champawat, UttaraKhand. It is 209 km from Gurudwara Sri NanakMata Sahib. Sri Guru NanakDev Ji , had visited this place. He held much spiritual discussion with the Gorakhpanthi Jogis, who lived here. When Bhai Mardana ji asked Guru Sahib for food, Guru Sahib asked Bhai Sahib to Ask the yogis. Yogis denied and asked Bhai Sahib to ask your Guru if he is such a Spritual Man. Then Guru Nanak Dev Ji asked Bhai Mardana ji to eat Reetha, a fruit on the tree which nor mally not sweet to eat but When Bhai Mardana ji plucked Reetha Fruit and he found it was Sweet. The reetha's were sweet on the side which Guru Sahib was sitting, and sour on the side on which Yogis were sitting. The yogis got angry and set a snake on tree with there powers. When Guru Nanak Dev Ji looked on the Snake it got frozen. Even today is Reetha fruit Sweeta to eat and distributed in Prasad. Tree still stands in the Premisis of the Gurudwara Sahib. Meetha Reetha Sahib The Gurudwara of Meetha Reetha Sahib is located at the confluence of the Lodhiya and Ratiya rivers. It was constructed in the year 1960 and is situated near the Village Deyuri. The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev ji, had visited this place. He held much spiritual discussion with the Gorakhpanthi Jogis, who lived here. Guru Nanak Dev ji also plucked the Reetha fruit from the Reetha tree, which had grown here. These trees are still there in the premises of Gurudwara. This is the reason why this place is called Meetha Reetha Sahib. Due to its religious background this place is considered as a holy place for Sikhs. The temple of Devnath is also located beside the Gurudwara. On the day of Baisakhi Purnima, the holy day of Sikhs, a fair is held in the premises of Gurudwara. The Meetha Reetha Sahib is situated at a distance of 72 kms from Champawat. Altitude 3000 Mts. Climate Cold in winters, Pleasant in Summers. Clothing Summer cotton, Winter Heavy Woollen Season Round the year Language Kumaoni, Hindi, Punjabi. ACCESSIBILITY Air Nearest Air port is Pant Nagar, 121 kms. (via Khatima Nanakmatta) Rail Nearest Railhead is Tanakpur, 20 Kms. Road Motorable road exists upto Thuligad, 14 Kms. from Tanakpur. Thereafter, the road is under construction upto Tunyas (Kms.). From here, a 3 Kms. trek leads to Purnagiri.