The Punjab Government on Monday finalised a series of events to mark the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur in November. These include religious processions from across the state, an inter-faith conference and traditional martial art events.AdvertisementThe decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Announcing the decisions, Education Minister Harjot Bains said from November 19 to November 25, most events would take place in Anandpur Sahib.“We are declaring Anandpur Sahib as White City and changes are being made in bylaws to ensure that all buildings are painted white. A tent city will also be erected there for the devotees,” he saidBains said four grand yatras would begin from different parts of Punjab and converge on Anandpur Sahib. He said a yatra would start on November 21 from Srinagar (Jammu-Kashmir) and pass through Pathankot and Hoshiarpur to reach Anandpur Sahib.“The second yatra will start from Gurdaspur and pass through Baba Bakala, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Jalandhar, eventually reaching Anandpur Sahib,” he said.“The third yatra will start from Ferozepur and pass through Moga and Ludhiana to proceed toward Anandpur Sahib, while the fourth one will start from Ferozepur and will pass through Faridkot, Bathinda, Barnala, Sangrur, Mansa, and Patiala,” he added.He said an inter-faith conference, promoting the message of communal harmony, would be held. “Every evening will witness a grand kirtan darbar, with renowned ragi jathas performing Gurbani,” he said. “Traditional martial arts (gatka) will be performed by Nihangs, showcasing the Khalsa martial heritage,” he added. Bains said a delegation of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee also met the CM in this regard. He said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) too could join the state government-organised functions.SGPC chief Dhami objects to ‘separate’ govt eventsAmritsar: SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Monday objected to “separate events” being organised by the government to mark the 350th martyrdom day Guru Teg Bahadur.In a press release, he said the SGPC, being an apex religious body of the Sikh community, was “solely entitled to organise such historic events, with the support of Sikh organisations and the sangat”. He said the primary role of the government was to provide administrative assistance for the convenience of pilgrims and not to interfere in religious affairs.
Inter-faith conference, yatras to mark Guru’s martyrdom day
