Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 3: A grand Nagar-Kirtan (Shobha Yatra) was taken out in Jammu City today by the Sikh community members and other devotees in connection with 359th Parkash Utsav (birthday) of Tenth Guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj.
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The grand religious procession, under tight security arrangements, started from the Gurdwara Yadgar Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj, Chand Nagar (Lower Gumat) at around 10 am and moved towards Dogra Chowk and main Tawi Bridge.
The devotees in large numbers, from different parts of Jammu and adjoining towns, assembled at Gurdwara Chand Nagar. Braving cold weather amidst fog, during early morning, even the children from various schools, dressed up in colourful uniforms, also joined the annual Nagar-Kirtan.
District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, organizing the whole affair, had highly decorated a vehicle into a beautiful chariot, covered with flowers and buntings. The holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib was placed on this chariot. The decorated vehicle was fitted with loud speakers. The priests (Granthis) were onboard the chariot, chanting Shabad-Kirtan in the praise of Great Guru, recalling his heroic deeds and sacrifices for the sake of the homeland and oppressed people, irrespective of caste, colour and creed.
In front of the decorated chariot, ‘Panj Payaras’, attired in traditional dress of warriors, carrying swords in hands were leading the procession. The band parties of some of the school children added color to the religious procession.
‘Gatka’ Party was the main attraction of the Nagar-Kirtan, as youth were seen displaying martial art (Gatka) with their swords on the way. A large number of devotees were seen joining the religious procession en-route. Various Ragi Jathas were accompanying the Shobha Yatra, followed by Sikh Sangat, chanting Shabad Kirtan.
The display of martial art by Gatka party was main public attraction during the entire procession. Thousands of Sikh community members including women and children, from various parts of Jammu city and entire district were part of grand religious procession, being taken out under the supervision of District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) Jammu headed by its president, Ranjeet Singh Tohra, with the support of Sikh Sangat.
Along Shobha Yatra route, many stalls of eatables and Sharbat (sweet water) were arranged by the other community members, Rajput Sabha and several other social organizations, depicting the true secular character of this great nation, showing respect for religious functions and festivals of other religions. Click here to watch video
Several senior officers from the District Administration also briefly joined the procession. The traffic had been diverted to different routes by the administration and it had been given wider publicity for the public convenience. PHE and JMC authorities had also made special arrangements for the Yatra. Even then, long traffic jams were witnessed at many places in the City.
Moving slowly from Tawi Bridge, the Nagar-Kirtan moved towards Asia Crossing. From this chowk, it moved towards Green Field Gandhi Nagar, and after passing through Hospital Road Gandhi Nagar, Gurdwara Chowk and Gole Market, it moved towards Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Nanak Nagar, where it finally culminated in the evening. After special prayers (Ardas) at the Nanak Nagar Gurdwara around 7 pm, the Sangat/devotees dispersed.
DGPC, Jammu president, RS Tohra and other office bearers/members extended gratitude to the District Administration, Jammu, JMC, PHE, Police and Traffic Police besides other social organizations and Sangat to make this event grand and successful.
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