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Kirtan, kirpan and kesri
Roopinder Singh on the chord that this Baisakhi struck among people at Anandpur Sahib

Illumination till April 30
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 16 — Lakhs of pilgrims, who thronged this "white city" during the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations, have carried with them the memories of the grand pandal, and illumination at the gurdwaras here.

Greeting card from Pakistan
ABOHAR: A beautiful saffron greeting card in Gurmukhi from Pakistan has been received by some journalists, poets and writers. The sender is Mr Illias Ghumman, Chairman of the Punjabi Languages and Cultural Department, Lahore (Punjab).

Celebrations ‘triumph of Khalsa spirit’
CHANDIGARH, April 16 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today described the unprecedented upsurge of devotional fervour during the tercentenary celebrations as "forceful reassertion of the universal humanitarian and liberal vision of the gurus....

"Nishan-e-Khalsa for NRI
JALANDHAR, April 16 — The compiler of the "Encyclopaedia of Sikhism", Mr Raghbir Singh Bains, has been honoured with the Order of Nishan-e-Khalsa by the Punjab Government on Baisakhi at Sri Anandpur Sahib.

Celebrations that sent correct signals
CHANDIGARH: It is time for Punjab to return to its normal routine, resuming its rhythm and pace now that the echo of the tercentenary has faded into silence.

Pilgrims bid adieu to ‘white city’
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 15 — After two weeks of hustle and bustle and participation by lakhs of pilgrims in the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa here, the ‘white city", except for areas near Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, wore a deserted look today.

Curtain falls on historic event
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 14 — The official ceremonies regarding the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa drew to a close today with representatives of various religions and inter-faith movements pledging a tryst with destiny.

Call to 'free' Akal Takht
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 14 — The suspended Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, today declared to free Akal Takht from Akali religio-politico institutions and the state.

Tohra camp for third front
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 14 — During the week-long celebrations of the tercentenary of the Khalsa here Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra's loyalists clearly distanced themselves from the BJP. They did not veer towards the Congress.

Badal ‘wasted’ 400 crore on self-glorification
TALWANDI SABO, April 14 — The President of the Lok Bhalai Party, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, today said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had wasted Rs 400 crore at Anandpur Sahib on self-glorification instead of spreading the message of Guru Gobind Singh.

Nishan-e-Khalsa winners
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 14 — To mark the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa, the Anandpur Sahib Foundation headed by Shiromani Akali Dal president and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal awarded the Order of Nishan-e-Khalsa to 80 most prominent Sikhs of the century.

Few join exhibition of relics
ANANDPUR SAHIB April 14 — Even as the Khalsa tercentenary function witnessed a record turnout, apathy on the part of the state government resulted in the exhibition of the weapons, ornaments, clothing and utensils used by Guru Gobind Singh and presented to various beloved ones during his lifetime being a half-hearted affair.

Big demand for kirpans
ANANDPUR SAHIB , April 14 — Kirpans, pure gold and silver commemorative medallions and posters carrying logo of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa have been most sought after items on sale here.

Badal announces new city
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 13 — Debit any number of devotees assembled here for the tercentenary Baisakhi to the account of either of the rival religio-political leaderships, yet a considerable number remain left out.

• Barnala, Tohra share dais
• Top Cong leaders join celebrations

Devotees throng Talwandi Sabo
TALWANDI SABO, April 13 — Even as a large number of devotees have started arriving here for a dip in the holy sarovar of Takht Damdama Sahib on the occasion of Baisakhi the district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of the public.

Blue, kesari balloons all over
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 13 — One of the attractions here have been the blue and kesari balloons which soar high into the sky just like the spirit of the Khalsa tercentenary celebration, which has infused the people.

Second language status to Punjabi
AMRITSAR, April 13 — The Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sheila Dixit, said here today that Punjabi would be given the second language status in Delhi in view of the tercentenary celebrations of the Sikh Panth.

Riding piggyback on religion
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 13 — The "religious card" long used by political parties, is now providing a piggyback for manufacturers of consumer items, including multinationals, who have set up huge banners and flying balloons with advertising messages along all roads leading to this city.

• Yogi to present embellished sword
• 'Cola war' reaches Anandpur Sahib
• Train traffic jumps to 17,000 daily

• BSP conference damp squib

Spectacular show at Anandpur Sahib
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 12 — If the "Khalsa fateh march", which showed unprecedented participation of the people, here today symbolised 'oneness of human spirit', its message, too, was loud and clear: there is no place for isms and schism in the order of the Khalsa Panth created by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

Tohra leads big march
MORINDA, April 12 — With two days to go for the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa, devotees are using every mode of transport are moving towards Anandpur Sahib.

• Overwhelmed by response

Foreigners steal limelight
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 12 — Foreigners, who have adopted the Sikh religion, today stole the limelight at the "Fateh march" held as part of the Khalsa celebrations. Clad in spotless white and blue robes, they remained a major attraction for thousands of pilgrims who turned up here from various parts of the country. They played the "gatka" with mastery.

Justice Kuldip Singh declines Order of Khalsa
CHANDIGARH, April 12 — Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Kuldip Singh today declined to accept the "Order of the Khalsa" which was to be conferred on him by the Punjab government tomorrow at Anandpur Sahib as part of the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations.

• Shekhar not to annoy any group

Thousands throng city of bliss
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 11 — The tercentenary of the Khalsa Panth has generated unprecedented enthusiasm among people. A throng of devotees possessed with religious fervour have arrived here.

Parallel celebrations begin
AMRITSAR, April 11 — Undettered by the warning of the new pro-Badal SGPC management, Sikh organisations and institutions backing suspended Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, held an impressive parallel tercentenary Khalsa march from Akal Takht today which will reach Anandpur Sahib on Tuesday.

• Badal: no need for parallel celebrations

Stampedes expose arrangements
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 11 — Traffic arrangements in the town and in the near vicinity of the Gurdwara Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib went haywire today. There were many stampedes in the vicinity of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib as the town burst at its seams with the rush of devotees.

Chetna march starts from Damdama Sahib
TALWANDI SABO, April 11 — The Khalsa chetna march organised by the Gurmat Sidhant Parcharak Sant Samaj, the World Sikh Council, the Damdami Taksal, the Miri Piri Seva Dal and other religious institutions attracted a big crowd when it started from Diwan Hall of Takht Damdama Sahib here today.

Sleepy town acquires new look
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 11 — A year ago, this small town of 15,000 was just a sleepy centre of pilgrimage that would wake up with the bustle of Hola Mohalla each year in March. Baisakhi, a traditional festival linked with harvesting and the founding of the Khalsa was celebrated more at Damdama Sahib and Amritsar. Here it was a small affair.

SGPC march today
AMRITSAR, April 11 — The acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, will flag off the "Sarbat ka bhala Khalsa march", sponsored by the SGPC, from Akal Takht tomorrow after performing "ardas", the SGPC said today.

• Ranjit Singh 'shouldn't have interfered'

JCOs' training academy at Anandpur Sahib
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 10 — The long-pending demand of the ex-servicemen of "one rank, one pension" has been accepted in principle by the Centre. Disclosing this, Union Defence Minister George Fernandes today said implementation of the demand was now a "matter of only a few days".

Congress chooses alternative site
PATIALA, April 10 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress has decided to hold its conference on Baisakhi at Anandpur Sahib at an alternative site near the PSEB guest house there following the disposal of its writ filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to restrain the government from acquiring land leased by it adjacent to Sikh Heritage Park to hold its function.

Spread Sikh tenets, says Puran Singh
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 10 — Giani Puran Singh, the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, today addressed a gathering from a huge pandal constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore near Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib and called upon the people to disseminate the message of the Gurus and propagate Sikh principles and tenets.

Challenges & the Sikh role
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 10 — The Sikhs enter the 21st century with the memorial celebrations of two tercentenaries; one, crowning of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh and two, installation of Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru.

‘Fateh’ march from Kiratpur on April 12
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 10 — An amusing situation arose at the media centre here this afternoon. While mediapersons were waiting for the arrival of the SGPC President for a press conference, in trooped several wrestlers with marigold garlands around their necks. They went to the dais and occupied the chairs.

Canadian jatha crosses over
AMRITSAR, April 10 — As many as 68 Canadian Sikhs today came to India by road after paying obeisance at various gurdwaras of Pakistan.

Bhai Ranjit Singh's Khalsa march
SGPC to deny access to takht
AMRITSAR, April 9 — While the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee has categorically said that it won't allow Bhai Ranjit Singh to use Akal Takht for launching his Khalsa march from here on April 11 the latter said he would avoid confrontation or provocation and would like to offer prayer at 'Ghanta Ghar' (the main gate of Golden Temple) before the 'Khalsa march' was flagged off.

Village view of tercentenary
THREE hundred years ago, the young Guru of a fledgling community called a mass gathering at Anandpur Sahib. Nearly one lakh people responded to his call and congregated at Anandpur Sahib. There the Guru infused a new spirit of brotherhood in his followers.

Celebrations boon to tent dealers
BATHINDA, April 9 — For the past one and a half months, printing press owners and tent dealers of the Malwa region are witnessing an unprecedented jump in their business due to the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa being celebrated all over Punjab.

• PM releases book on Sikh history
• 30 minute silence for ‘mukh vak’
• Khalsa award for late professor

• Opens Khalsa heritage show

Cops, VIPs irk pilgrims
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 8 — The real impact of the tercentenary celebrations was felt only beyond Kiratpur Sahib, which is 11 km from here.

Long march to secularism
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 8 — It is indeed a different setting and a different mood at this historic city where Guru Gobind Singh created a unique religion 300 years ago.

Manjit Singh absent
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 8 — Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee today visited Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, became the first Prime Minister of the country to visit this holy city. Mr Vajpayee arrived an hour behind schedule. He reached at 12.45 p.m. though it was officially announced he would arrive there at 11.50 a.m.

CM sabotaging Congress yatra: Amarinder
GURUSARMEHRAJ (Bathinda), April 8— The Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee President, Capt Amarinder Singh, today alleged that the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was trying to sabotage the Sarbans Dani Shardha Yatra being organised by the party.

'Badal has no right to lead celebrations'
LUDHIANA, April 8 —Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, senior Akali leader and a close associate of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, asserted that Mr Badal had no right to lead the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib.

7 first aid posts at Anandpur Sahib
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 8 — The Punjab Red Cross Society has set up seven first aid posts in and around this town to provide emergency medical aid to needy pilgrims. Out of these, three posts will work round the clock up to April 14.

Exhibition at Anandpur Sahib
CHANDIGARH, April 8 — A handicraft and industrial exhibition organised by the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation will be inaugurated by Mr Sucha Singh Langah, Minister of State for Industry, at Anandpur Sahib tomorrow

No Pakistani's arrive for march
WAGAH, April 7 — No Pakistani national today crossed the Wagah border to participate in the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations due to delay in issuance of visas by the Pakistani government.

President to release stamp on Khalsa
NEW DELHI, April 7 — President K.R. Narayanan on Friday will release a commemorative stamp on the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa.The stamp designed to commemorate the initiation of Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh on the Baisakhi day in 1699 will be released by the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Parts of 'Dasam Granth' in various languages
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 7 — To mark the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, the Centre would publish select parts of the "Dasam Granth", authored by Guru Gobind Singh, in different languages of the country to disseminate the message of the Guru throughout the country.

Khalsa march leaves for Anandpur Sahib
FEROZEPORE, April 7 — A large number of men, women and elderly persons hailing from different parts of this border district, under the banner of the Dashmesh Khalsa March, today left for Anandpur Sahib to participate in the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations, to be inaugurated there on April 8, by the Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Steps to baptise prisoners
NANGAL, April 7 — The development work at Anandpur Sahib will continue at the same pace after the tercentenary celebrations and work on the Khalsa heritage memorial complex will speed up after April 14, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said while talking to newspersons here today.

International airport planned
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 6 — To mark the Khalsa Tercentenary and as a special goodwill gesture to this 'white city', the central government has offered an international airport to this town for providing direct access to Sikhs living abroad as the town is fast evolving on the tourist map.

Army's behind-the-scenes role
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 6 — Multiple agencies, both state and central, are still on the job giving final touches to the services and infrastructure, permanent and temporary, created for the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa here.

Largest langar hall in region
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 6 — Most of the thousands of pilgrims to Anandpur Sahib partake of langar at the SGPC run langar hall before returning.

CM: make celebrations a success
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 6 — President of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked members and office-bearers of the party to motivate people to participate in the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations.

Khalsa marches in Canada
TORONTO, April 6 — An estimated 1.5 lakh persons marched through Vancouver and suburban Surrey in Canada to commemorate the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa.

Bhai Ranjit asks for show of strength
ALAMGIR (Ludhiana) April 5 — The suspended Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, challenged the Shiromani Akali Dal president and Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president, Bibi Jagir Kaur to a show of strength at Sri Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of Baisakhi.

Status quo on land for Khalsa complex
CHANDIGARH, April 5 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice J.L. Gupta, and Mr Justice N.K. Aggarwal today issued notice of motion on a writ petition challenging the acquisition of land for the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex at Anandpur Sahib and ordered the maintenance of the status quo till July 29 the next date of hearing.

SGPC to publish Sikh literature
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 5 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee would publish literature on Sikh ideology and principles in different languages to make it available in the country and abroad.

March arrival at Bathinda on April 6
BATHINDA, April 4 — The Khalsa Sirjana March being taken out from the birth place of Guru Gobind Singh — Patna Sahib — will reach here on April 6.

'White city' prepares for pilgrims
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 3 — With the convergence of thousands of devotees daily on this "white city", even a week before the formal inauguration of tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa on April 8, the district administration is gearing itself to cope up with the needs of the pilgrims.

Celebrations begin formally
CHANDIGARH, April 2 — A three-day international seminar on the "Relevance of the Khalsa value system in the 21st century" today marked the formal commencement of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa being organised by the Anandpur Sahib Foundation.

Badal decries Tohra's remarks
FARIDKOT, April 2 — Punjab Chief Minister and SAD President Parkash Singh Badal has assailed former SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra for his appeal to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to not attend the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib. "It seems Mr Tohra has lost his balance of mind," said the Chief Minister.

Mood upbeat over celebrations
CHANDIGARH, April 1 — Despite endless political feuds and serious social and economic crisis staring Punjab, the people's mood to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of Khalsa is upbeat.

Parallel celebrations likely
CHANDIGARH, March 31 — Warring Akali factions are taking hard positions regards the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa that begin on April 14, Baisakhi day. It is now clear that two parallel celebrations would be held at Anandpur Sahib, the birth place of the Khalsa.

Namdhari Khalsa march ends
ANANDPUR SAHIB, March 28 — A massive "Namdhari Sant Khalsa march", led by Satguru Jagjit Singh, head of Namdhari sect, taken out in connection with the tercentenary celebrations ended at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib here today.

Temple money siphoned off: Tohra
RAJLA (Patiala) March 26 — Former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gurcharan Singh Tohra today alleged that money belonging to the Darbar Sahib was being siphoned off to the government-controlled Anandpur Sahib Foundation.

Ex-Jathedar forms panel for tercentenary
AMRITSAR, March 25 — In a significant development, Bhai Ranjit Singh suspended Akal Takht Jathedar, today released the list of 41-member committee for the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa Panth.

All that glitters at Golden Temple is gold
AMRITSAR, March 21 — The Golden Temple literally glitters more than usual. The domes and outer portions of the temple have been given new gold gilded copper sheets. This work of exquisite craftsmanship was started four years ago. The main entrance to the sanctum sanctorum called Darshani Deori has also started shimmering.

Badal for unity at celebrations
ANANDPUR SAHIB, March 21 — The Chief Minister of Punjab and President of the SAD, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today made it clear that no political speech would be allowed at the main function of the tercentenary celebrations of birth of the Khalsa to be held here in April.

Celebrations not political: Badal
CHANDIGARH, March 19 — While urging his main rivals — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh — without naming them to give up plans for parallel celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced his government's agenda for the next century in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today.

Tercentenary: parallel office set up
LUDHIANA, March 17 — The central office of the Khalsa Panth tercentenary committees set up by Bhai Ranjit Singh for holding parallel celebrations was inaugurated here at Gurudwara Akalgarh by Baba Sarabjot Singh, President of Gurmati Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj.

5 Takht heads to guide celebrations
LUDHIANA, March 9 — The tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa will be held under the joint auspices of all five Takhts.

Khalsa celebrations to begin on April 6
CHANDIGARH, March 6 — The tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa will begin on April 6 with an Akhand Path at Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib. The mega event will be formally inaugurated on April 8 by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Students celebrate Khalsa tercentenary
CHANDIGARH, March 6 — As a part of the tercentenary celebrations of the formation of the Khalsa Panth, students of Sri Guru Ram Das Public School, Sector 19, presented a cultural extravaganza, today.

Badal, Tohra address parallel meetings
ANANDPUR SAHIB, March 2 — SGPC President G S Tohra today hinted that a new Akali Dal would be "floated with involvement of active workers" even as he and party president and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal broke Sikh traditions and addressed parallel political meets on the occasion of Hola Mohalla here.

No plan to set up party: Tohra
BANGA (Punjab) Feb 27 — Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Gurcharan Singh Tohra claimed that Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal's determination to completely dominate the tercentenary of the Khalsa's birth and to promote his son were the root cause of the crisis gripping Panthic polity.

19 cr released for tercentenary
ANANDPUR SAHIB, Feb 24 — Many of the VIP invitees failed to turn up at the meeting of the National Implementation Committee for tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa here today. In the absence of Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Human Resources Development Minister and chairman of the Implementation Committee, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the Punjab Chief Minister and Vice-chairman of the committee presided.

Celebrate without malice: Puran Singh
AMRITSAR, Feb 24 — The Akal Takht acting Jathedar, Giani Puran Singh, in his first message to the Sikhs, has appealed that the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations be observed in a spirited fashion, without malice or prejudice against anyone.

Mittal clarifies stand on function
JALANDHAR, Feb 19 — Senior BJP Minister Madan Mohan Mittal has clarified that the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa are not just government-sponsored programmes but being organised by a committee.

Sonia to attend Khalsa function
CHANDIGARH, Feb 17 — Mrs Sonia Gandhi, President of the All-India Congress Committee, will visit Punjab during the tercentenary celebrations.

‘White city’ work begins
ROPAR, Feb 1 — As part of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa Panth, a project to paint the entire Anandpur Sahib town white began today following an ardas in Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib by Giani Surinder Singh, Principal of Sikh Missionary College, Anandpur Sahib.