Gurupurab celebrated with gaiety
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Nov 23: Parkash Utsav -the 549th birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism was celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety across the State today.
In this connection the religious congregations were held in the Gurdwaras in which thousands of devout Sikhs including men, women and children participated and paid their obeisance to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Shri Guru Granth Sahib. Click here to watch video
All the Gurdwaras in Jammu and other parts of the region were illuminated by the devotees.
The Sikh Ragi Jathas and scholars in their religious discourses highlighted the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. In Jammu, the main function was held at Gurdwara Yadgar Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Chand Nagar while at Srinagar the main function was held at Gurdwara Chhatipadshashi in Rainawari. Thousands members of Sikh community attired in colorful dresses participated in the functions from early in the morning which continued late in the evening.
The function at Jammu was organised by Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee district Jammu. The prominent Ragi Jathas from State and outside the State delivered religious sermons and recited Gurbani Kirtan. They called upon the people to follow the path of equality, love, brotherhood, goodness and virtue shown by Gru Nanak Dev Ji.
The Ragi Jathas of Bhai Mohinder Singh and Bhai Amandeep Singh from Delhi, Bhai Ranjeet Singh from UP, Bhai Gian Singh, Bhai Randhir Singh and Bhai Surjeet Singh from Jammu recited the Kirtan. Singh Sahib Balwinder Singh Ji, Granthi, Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar and Sant Tejwant Singh Ji of Santpura Dana delivered sermons on the occasion.
On this occasion, a resolution was also passed highlighting social and political problems being faced by the Sikh community in the State. The resolution was moved by S Ranjodh Singh Nalwa.
The resolution demanded minority status for Sikhs of the State, and setting up of Minority Commission in the State on the lines of National Minority Commission (NMC), settlement of Refugees issue on the basis of report of Cabinet Sub Committee on displaced persons from PoJK.
It demanded payment of Rs 30 lakh per family as one time settlement as recommended by Cabinet Sub Committee, reservation in professional colleges outside J&K for the children of displaced families, reservation of jobs in paramilitary forces, Army and other Central Government offices for the wards of DPs, inclusion of left out DPs families for assistance and granting State subjects to PoJK refugees living outside the State, installation of Statue of Banda Singh Bahadur at Kunjwani Chowk and naming the chowk after him, relief and security of people living in border areas, inclusion of Sikhs living in Kashmir in SRO 425 by amending the discriminatory SRO, implementation of Anand Marriage Act in the State and justice to victims of 1984 and 1989 genocide.
It, however, welcomed the court verdict on culprits of Sikh genocide in Delhi and regretted that main two culprits Sajan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler were still roaming free. It further demanded holding of an impartial probe into the anti Sikh carnage in J&K during 1984 and 1989 in Jammu and killing of members of Sikh Community in Chhatisingpora in South Kashmir district of Anantnag in 2000.
Addressing the Sangat, T S Wazir chairman, State Gurdwara Prabandhak Board urged the State and Central Governments to fulfill the legitimate demands of Sikh community. He assured that DGPC and SGPB with the cooperation of Sikh Sangat will continue struggle for resolution of all the genuine demands.
DGP Dilbag Singh and NC provincial president, Devender Singh Rana also addressed the gathering and greeted the Sangat.
General secretary, DGPC S Fateh Singh managed the stage while all members of SGPB and DGPC were also present on the occasion.
Gurupurab was celebrated with great religious fervor and gaiety at Gurdwara Khalsa Chowk Purani Poonch, Sahazada Ajit Singh Mahant Sahab Gurdwara, Brig Headquarters Poonch. But the main function was held at Singh Sabha Poonch in which thousands of devotees participated.
DDC Poonch, Rahul Yadav and SSP Poonch, Rajeev Pandey, DGPC president , Poonch, Prof Narinder Singh, its general secretary, Rajinder Singh and others addressed the gathering. They threw light on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
A Langer was arranged where thousands took prashad in the community kitchen. In Brigade Headquarters orphans were invited to community kitchen.
Guru purab was also celebrated in border village of Pangdour, Samba with fervor and enthusiasm .
At Bhadarwah, a large number of Sikh devotees thronged the Kotli Gurdwara where a function was organized by DGPC Doda on the occasion of Gurupurab. The function started from Ardas and singing of hymns from Shri Guru Granth Sahib.
Gurupurab, was also celebrated today throughout the Valley of Kashmir with traditional religious fervor and enthusiasm.
Thousands of devotees including men, women and children paid obeisance at various Gurdwaras, which were illuminated and decorated with colourful buntings.
People belonging to Sikh community, attired in colourful dresses, paid obeisance at Gurdwaras and the main function was held at Gurdwara Chhatipadshashi in Rainawari area of old Srinagar city.
Since early morning, Sikhs from across Valley started pouring in at Chhatipadshashi Gurudwara and offered prayers while as Amira Kadal and Jawahar Nagar Gurdwara’s also witnessed heavy rush of devotees.
Hymns were rendered at Chhatipadshashi and other Gurudwaras to mark the occasion.
Elaborate arrangements were made by the district administration to facilitate hassle free parking. However, intricate security measures were put in place to avoid any untoward incident.
Many religious and social organizations had arranged ‘langars’ for the devotees at the Gurdwaras.
Gurupurab was also celebrated in different other parts of Kashmir including Tral and some parts of Budgam where Sikhs are present in good numbers.
Gurupurab celebration was organized by the local Rashtriya Rifles (RR) Battalion under the aegis of 79 Mountain Brigade on behalf of Dagger Division in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
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