Sri Goindwal Sahib is a place of devotion

Sri Goindwal Sahib town, 23 km from Tarn Taran and situated on the banks of Beas river, has become a place of great devotion. It is set to hold the congregation regarding the 450th year of Gurta Gaddi (taking Guruship) by the fourth Sikh Guru Ram Das and the Jyoti Jyot Divas of third Sikh Guru Amar Das ji here. Goindwal Sahib is called the axle of Sikhism (Sikhi Da Dhura). The preparations for both the days have been underway for the last few months. According to the programme chalked out by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), which is the sole organiser, the function will commence from September 15 and conclude on September 18. In one way, the programme has already started as Nagar Kirtans have been coming here from different parts of Punjab and other states almost daily. The devotees too have been coming here daily in their individual capacity. The congregations are to be attended by lakhs of devotees. The officials of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and certain heads of the Kar Sewa sect have been camping here to assist in the arrangements. Sufficient arrangements have been made for the boarding and lodging of devotees who come here to pay their respects to the Gurus. The administration too is leaving no stone unturned to make preparations for providing facilities to the devotees. Gurdwara Baoli Sahib is the main centre of celebrations where there are 84 underground stairs (84 paurians) where the devotees take bath to free themselves from the circle of life and death (Janam marn de chakker to mukt karvauna).

Devotees from foreign countries too are arriving here with deference. The residents are taking keen interest in helping out with the arrangements and they have opened their doors for the devotees to take shelter or partake of food. The SGPC has deputed Satnam Singh Riar as the main organiser for the programme. He said that for trouble-free visit of the devotees, as many as 400 rooms have been arranged for shelter. He said that besides the Sarais of Gurdwara Baoli Sahib, all the schools and colleges of the town and even the government schools have offered their buildings for the accommodation of devotees. He said that some residents have offered to accommodate the Ragis, Dhadis and Kirtan Jathas, who come here from far off areas. Satnam Singh Riar said that sufficient sites have been fixed for the parking of vehicles of devotees. He said that a number of religious sects have reached here to make arrangements for the langar of devotees. The Deputy Commissioner has instructed the departments concerned to erect temporary toilets and fix urinal pots around the town. The route map has also been chalked out for the participants. The police are busy planning traffic routes. As the programme is to be attended by the reputed jathas of Ragis, Dhadis and Kirtaniyas from all over, the organisers have made arrangements for them as well. The town has been decorated with flags and lighting. The Goindwal Sahib town was declared the country’s first Industrial Nucleus Complex in 1980 by the Union Government, which has been converted into a mere Focal Point and the big industrial units have been closed by the entrepreneurs due to one reason or the other.

Young Teacher Award

Anoop Singh Saini has been honoured with the ‘Young Teacher Award’ by the state government on Teacher’s Day. He was presented the award by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at a state-level function organised in Hoshiarpur. He started his career from Government Elementary School, Desuwal (Naushehra Pannuan) and is at present the District Resource Coordinator (DRC). Rajesh Kumar Sharma, District Education Officer (Elementary), Tarn Taran, too has awarded Anoop Singh Maini.

Sahodya organises awards function for teachers

Sri Guru Arjun Dev Sahodya, an organisation of schools affiliated to the CBSE, organised a ‘Teachers Awards Function’ here in which Dr Shwait Arora, Joint Secretary, CBSE was the chief guest. Maninder Pal Singh, one of the organisers of the function, said the event was attended by the representatives of all the CBSE-affiliated schools of the district. He said that four principals — Manisha Sood, Jatinder Kaur, Rambir Singh and Vinit Maini — besides one teacher from each school were honoured at the function.