SGPC has coins minted to mark Guru’s anniversary

GS Paul

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 18

The SGPC has got gold and silver coins minted to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. These coins will be launched by Governor VP Singh Badnore on November 23 at Gurdwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi, from where the year-long celebrations will be launched.

SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh said these coins would be available at the prevailing gold/silver rates on the day of the purchase. Counters would be set up at Sultanpur Lodhi for devotees to purchase these coins. These would be available at the SGPC office in Amritsar too, he added.

On one side of the coin the impression of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib has been embossed, whereas the other side has got the image of Gurdwara Ber Sahib.

The 24-carat gold coins weigh 10 gm and 5 gm, whereas silver ones weigh 25 gm and 50 gm.

“At present we have arranged 100 gold coins weighing 10 gm and 250 coins weighing 5 gm each. Similarly, 250 silver coins will be on offer,” he said.

The purpose was that these coins could be held in reserve as a symbol of memorable occasion.

The SGPC has also arranged a special set of books based on philosophy and teachings of Guru Nanak in Punjabi, English and Hindi. This would be distributed free of cost to devotees.

SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal said, “I appeal all parties, organisations and groups to rise above the party lines and participate in the occasion being celebrated at Sultanpur Lodhi gurdwara on November 22-23.”

Meanwhile, the SGPC will send its jatha to Pakistan on November 21. SGPC secretary Diljit Singh Bedi said out of 1,694 aspirants, passports of 1,630 were despatched to procure visa.

Bedi said the jatha would visit Pakistan between November 21 and 30 under the supervision of SGPC members Amarjit Singh Bhalaipur and Swarn Kaur. The jatha will visit Nankana Sahib and other gurdwaras.