350th martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur
Praise Omar for ‘elaborate arrangements’
Bivek Mathur
SRINAGAR, Nov 19: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal today said they were deeply moved by the devotion, dedication and enthusiasm of the Sikh Sangat in Jammu and Kashmir as they joined the Nagar Kirtan and commemorative programmes marking the 350th martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, in Srinagar.
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The two leaders participated in the yatra alongside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The Nagar Kirtan started this morning from Gurdwara Chhati Patshahi in Srinagar and will culminate at Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 22. The yatra halted at Jammu today and will halt at Pathankot on November 20 and Hoshiarpur on November 21.
A large cavalcade, including the Palki Sahib, Panj Pyaare, Gatka groups, religious floats, Panj Nishaanchi, Nagada teams, Raagi Jathas, a digital museum, langar vehicles, sangat buses, and support units, is accompanying the procession.
Thousands of devotees from across Jammu and Kashmir participated in the event, offering prayers to mark the sacred occasion.
In their brief remarks, Mann and Kejriwal said, “The commitment and discipline displayed by the Sikh Sangat in Srinagar has added emotional depth to the beginning of the commemorative journey.”
“The enthusiasm with which the devotees have gathered here reflects the deep respect associated with Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings and sacrifice,” they said.
Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal said Guru Tegh Bahadur’s life was a beacon of inspiration for humanity, rooted in the ideals of love, religious freedom, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
He said the supreme sacrifice of the ninth Sikh Guru to protect the rights of others remained unmatched in world history.
He added that the series of events being organised this year aimed to carry forward these teachings to a wider audience, especially the younger generation.
Mann said the Guru’s martyrdom changed the direction of India’s history by upholding faith, justice and righteousness.
He said the Guru’s message guided the emergence of the Khalsa twenty four years later and continued to shape the Sikh community’s legacy of courage and service.
He also recalled the historic link between Kashmir and Guru Sahib’s sacrifice, noting that Kashmiri Pandits will participate in the Nagar Kirtan, reflecting communal harmony.
Both leaders also praised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the elaborate arrangements made for the Nagar Kirtan and the Kirtan Darbar.
They said the cooperation extended by the administration and the Sangat would ensure the smooth completion of the yatra up to Sri Anandpur Sahib.
They informed that the Punjab Government had organised a range of activities beginning October 25, including Kirtan Darbars, interfaith conferences, exhibitions and light-and-sound shows across the districts.
Three more Nagar Kirtans will start from Talwandi Sabo, Faridkot and Gurdaspur on November 20, converging with the Srinagar yatra at Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 22, they informed.
From November 23 to 25, major programmes will take place at Sri Anandpur Sahib, including a special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, blood donation camps, a plantation drive and a large “Sarbat da Bhala Ikkatarta” gathering.
A tent city named “Chakk Nanaki” is also being established to accommodate thousands of pilgrims arriving for the concluding events.
Mann and Kejriwal urged devotees across India and abroad to participate wholeheartedly and uphold the values of peace and humanity that Guru Tegh Bahadur stood for.
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