Prez, Pope, PM on Punjab Govt's invitee list for Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom event

From President Droupadi Murmu and Pope Leo to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 28 chief ministers, the Punjab Government has drawn up an exhaustive list of guests for the commemoration of Guru Teg Bahadur's 350th martyrdom anniversary to be marked in the state.

The month-long programme -- from October 25 to November 25 -- will witness narrations for over 70 lakh students on the Guru's life across school assemblies in the state, light and sound shows in all 23 districts and full prohibition of liquor and non-vegetarian food along the routes of four religious processions.

Three firms have been hired by the state government to organise three parts of the programme -- nagar kirtans, light and sound shows and November 23 to 25 Sarva Dharma conclave at Anandpur Sahib to conclude the month-long commemoration.

Speaking to The Tribune today, Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Adviser (Tourism and Cultural Affairs) Deepak Bali said the invitations to the President, the Prime Minister and CMs were in the process of being extended and were meant for the Sarva Dharma Sabha at Anandpur Sahib, where a tent city adequate to house 15,000 devotees had been erected.

Bains said the state was expecting over one crore pilgrims between November 10 and 30 and all arrangements were in place. "We already have the experience of handling 50 lakh devotees during Hola Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib," Bains said.

He added that the state would witness a never-before-seen drone show on the life and times of Sikh Gurus. Bali said the commemoration would begin on October 25 at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi, where Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Cabinet Ministers and other dignitaries will pay obeisance. 

On this occasion, the Chief Minister will also visit the sacred martyrdom sites of Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayala, who made unparalleled sacrifices in devotion to the Guru.

From November 1 to 18, light and sound shows will be held across Punjab districts depicting the great life and teachings of Guru Teg Bahadur.

The first nagar kirtan will start from Srinagar, in which 350 Kashmiri Pandits will join apart from J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and CM Mann.

This will take the Jammu-Pathankot-Hoshiarpur route to reach Anandpur Sahib on November 22. A day later on November 20, three nagar kirtans will start from Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo), Faridkot, and Gurdaspur, all culminating at Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 22 where the all faith conference will happen over the next three days.

"No liquor and non-vegetarian food will be served along the routes of nagar kirtans," Bali said, adding that the Punjab Government had sent the invitation to top religious and spiritual leaders, including Pope Leo XIV, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and leading Buddhist and Jain monks.

Bali said all nagar kirtans would be led by revered Sikh seers, and the content on Guru Teg Bahadur to be narrated in Punjab schools had been vetted by the SGPC. The Punjab Government, state ministers said, had invited all jathedars and prominent Sikh gurdwara committees to take part in the commemoration.