The ‘kar sewa’ (voluntary service) of cleaning the gold plates covering the domes and external walls of the Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib, the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple, with herbal material commenced on Friday morning after the ‘ardaas’.The gold plates are being washed with a natural concoction of water, lemon juice and boiled ‘reetha’ (soapnut).The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has entrusted Bhai Mohinder Singh, head of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, Birmingham, with the responsibility of the ‘kar sewa’.The ‘kar seva’ of cleaning gold plates of the sanctum sanctorum underway at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, Golden Temple additional head granthi Giani Amarjit Singh and Nishkam Sewak Jatha head Bhai Mohinder Singh were among those present during the commencement of the ‘kar sewa’.Dhami said the gold plates at the Golden Temple were washed annually by volunteers of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewa Jatha, Birmingham.Volunteers will also clean the gold plates covering the domes of the Akal Takht, Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai and Ghanta Ghar Deori.The SGPC president thanked the volunteers and expressed hope that they would continue to serve the ‘Guru Ghar’ (abode of the lord) similarly in future.The ‘kar seva’ of cleaning gold plates of the sanctum sanctorum underway at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.Bhai Mohinder Singh said, due to the blessings of the Guru Sahib, the Jatha carried out the work of washing gold every year with support from the SGPC.Volunteers had come specially for the ‘kar sewa’, which would continue for 10-12 days, he added.