Gurprasad Kaur shared her experience of releasing Shakti Parwha Kaur’s ashes, while on the Akal Dayal Yatra in India.
Shakti Parwha Kaur at Winter Solstice in Florida in 1988
Gurdwara PatalPuri Sahib, City of the Underworld, is located in Kiratpur Sahib, Punjab. Situated on the banks of the sacred Sutlej River, it is the final destination for the ashes of many Sikhs since the time of Guru Hargobind ji and the founding of the city in 1627. The immersion of ashes, final remains of this earthly journey into the flowing waters of the river, represents the eternal journey of the soul and its final merger with the Infinite.
Death is the great Uniter of us all. In 2004, Siri Singh Sahib’s ashes were released there from a rickety bridge crowded with his followers. In 2022, a friend and I carried the ashes of a dear soul, GuruPrem Kaur to the holy waters. Two years later, I returned with the ashes of my late husband, Siri Shiva Singh. On those two occasions, we stood in the river and gently released the ashes into the water. It felt seamless and organic.
In November of 2025, with the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, a group of 23 pilgrims, on our Akal Dyal yatra to partake in the celebrations of our “Shrist-di Chadar,” “Shield of the World,” was blessed to carry the ashes of our beloved “mother of the Dharma,” Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa, to her final destination in the River Sutlej.
We processed together from the parking lot to the Gurdwara, to bow together and say a final Ardas. We then proceeded to the banks of the river, chanting and lovingly carrying her ashes. We stopped and sat on the steps leading down to the water and recited Japji Sahib and Kirtan Soheila.
When it came time for releasing her ashes, a dear and seasoned one amongst us suggested that we not stay at water level but rather go to the main bridge overlooking the river and with that great height, allow her ashes to sail on the wind from above.
What a majestically ceremonial occasion it was to stand together on that bridge, surveying the entire river from above, accompanied by the accordion playing of Kirtan Singh, singing our beautiful songs of praise and taking turns releasing Shakti Parwha Kaur’s ashes and watching them fill the air as they danced to the waters below.
We watched as the river carried them to the Infinite Expanse of the Universe. It was immensely powerful and heart-opening to be together, partaking in this final goodbye to such a grand exalted soul, our great matriarch, teacher and beloved first student of the Siri Singh Sahib ji.
Paramjit Grewal says:
In 2005, I took my mother’s ashes to Kiratpur Sahib. Also took along my younger son with me so that he can witness and do the same for me when my turn comes.