Anandpur Sahib sees historic transformation for Guru’s event

As one enters the holy city of Anandpur Sahib, the transformation for the historic 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur is unmistakable. From illuminated heritage structures to the sprawling tent cities and a prefabricated Assembly complex — replica of Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh — the city has been turned into a vast devotional landscape.

Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Virasat-e-Khalsa, five forts, museums, roundabouts and routes designated for nagar kirtans radiate with warm golden hues and decorative thematic installations.

Strings of LED motifs depicting scenes from the life of Guru Tegh Bahadur line the streets, while heritage lamps installed across pathways give the town a spiritual ambience. The scale of arrangements is unprecedented. The newly erected prefabricated Assembly complex at Bhai Jaita Ji Memorial is among the most striking sights. Its grand façade stands ready to host the first-ever session of the Punjab Assembly outside Chandigarh on November 24. Workers were seen giving finishing touches, fixing nameplates, polishing interiors, arranging seating while security personnel guarded the perimeter.

For locals, the Assembly’s presence in Anandpur Sahib was “historic, emotional and unimaginable”, a shopkeeper said. Walking through the city, one can see security tightened at every spot. Over 8,000 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.

Further, cameras track incoming vehicles and facial recognition systems monitor entry points. The city has been divided into 25 security sectors, each mapped to sub-control rooms. IIT-Ropar’s real-time traffic mapping dashboard gleams on digital screens inside the Integrated Control Centre, guiding movement across 35 monitored parking zones.

On the ground, shuttle services run continuously. E-rickshaws hum through the lanes, ferrying elderly devotees from remote parking zones, while mini-buses zip between Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Virasat-e-Khalsa, the main pandal and the tent cities, where “Chak Nanki Niwas” and “Bhai Mati Das Niwas” resemble temporary townships. Spread over 81 acres and designed to host 10,000 pilgrims, their white tent lanes stretch across fields. The energy across the city pulses nagar kirtans coming from adjoining villages.

Preparations for the daily drone show at Virasat-e-Khalsa are also in full swing. Technicians can be seen rehearsing sequences that will narrate Guru Tegh Bahadur’s life using ultra-modern visuals, lasers and synchronised soundscapes. As dusk falls, Anandpur Sahib turns magical. The shimmering skyline, the hum of devotional activity and the blend of spiritual fervour merge into a powerful tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur’s message of sacrifice, freedom of faith and universal humanism.