Every village, city touched by Guru Teg Bahadur to be developed, says Cabinet Minister

The Punjab Government has announced grand events across the state to celebrate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of ninth Sikh master Guru Teg Bahadur. Punjab Cabinet Minister S Harbhajan Singh ETO and Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Saund on Friday held a meeting with MLAs and district officials in Amritsar about the outline of the religious events to be organised.

The ministers said wherever Guru Sahib had set foot, special events will be organised by the government and these villages and cities will be developed on a large scale. They said kirtan darbars will also be organised in four big cities, including Amritsar, where Guru Sahib had his presence, including in Baba Bakala Sahib, Jalandhar and Anandpur Sahib.

MLAs Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Jeevanjot Kaur, Dalbir Singh Tong, Jasbir Singh Sandhu, Tourism Department Adviser Deepak Bali and Tourism Department Director Sanjeev Tiwari were present in the meeting held today at the DC complex. ETO briefed the district administration and officials of various departments about the entire programme in detail and issued instructions regarding the arrangements to be made for the convenience of the devotees.

Saund said yatras will reach Anandpur Sahib from four places, including Gurdaspur, Bathinda and Faridkot. The yatra from Gurdaspur will stop in Amritsar.

“A grand Sri Akhand Path Sahib will be inaugurated on November 23 at Virasat-e-Khalsa, in which Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and prominent religious figures from the country and abroad will be present. On the same day, a digital exhibition depicting the martyrdom of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Punjab at Virasat-e-Khalsa,” he said. He said a special session of the Legislative Assembly will be called on November 24.

The celebrations will also include Mohalla Khalsa exhibition organized by Nihang Singhs. Kavi Darbar, Dhadi, Kavishri programmes related to the life and teachings of Guru Sahib will also be held. “Light and sound and drone show” programmes will be organized in every district of Punjab.

Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said on November 25 at 7 pm, government buildings across the state will be illuminated in the light of Mishal-e-Shahadat, dedicating it to the martyrdom of Guru Sahib. The Cabinet Minister said there will be tent city for the accommodation of the sangat coming to Sri Anandpur Sahib and e-rickshaws will be arranged for visiting various religious places. The Cabinet Minister said these programs will start with the inauguration of the Yadgar of Rangrete Guru’s son Bhai Jaita at Anandpur Sahib on September 5.

Four major cities of Punjab — Anandpur Sahib, Amritsar Sahib, Baba Bakala and Patiala — will be completely decorated with lighting.