Ahead of PM’s visit, Ballan women prepare special langar

Ahead of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, the community kitchen at the Dera Sachakhand Ballan in Jalandhar is abuzz with activity as women make final preparations for the langar to be served on Guru Ravidas Jayanti.

Inside the community kitchen, chants of “Jo Bole So Nirbhai, Satguru Ravidas Maharaj Di Jai” and hyms like “mera rang de naam vich jora” reverberate at regular intervals. Women take turns to peel potatoes and cook rotis by a huge pile of wood and dried leaves, which fire a massive hearth.

The PM’s visit, which comes on the heels of Padma Shri honour being conferred on dera chief Sant Niranjan Dass, has added fervour to the festivities.

Earlier, mega celebrations had been planned for February 15 — the birth anniversary of Sant Sarwan Das, the second gaddi nashin of the Dera Ballan. However, dera chief Sant Niranjan Dass will return from Varanasi tomorrow to mark Ravidas Jayanti in a special exception being made for the PM’s visit.

Local resident Randeep Kaur said, “All of us are very happy that the PM will be here for darshan on Guru Ravidas Maharaj’s birthday. The Padma Shri honour and PM’s visit have indeed added to the festivities.” “It is the first visit by a PM so the mood today is different. We are all devotees and any honour is a laudable gesture. It fills us with pride,” said Geetika, who helps her mother peel vegetables.