Gurudwara Sri Nanakana Sahib stands in Kashipur city, Udham Singh Nagar district. The river running through the town — known in those days as the Swaran river — would flood every year, causing such damage that the local people were on the verge of abandoning their homes for safer ground when Guru Nanak Dev Ji arrived.

Guru Sahib told them to be patient and stay, and sat by the riverside singing kirtan. As the kirtan continued, the river began to rise — until Guru Sahib performed ardas, at which the waters touched his feet and receded, settling at a safe distance from the town, never to flood it again. It is said that when Guru Sahib threw a clod of earth (dhela) into the river during this episode, the river came to be known as the Dhela ever since.