Sikh jatha in Pak, nagar kirtan tomorrow

GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Nankana Sahib (Pak), July 30

A jatha, comprising around 480 members, today crossed over to Pakistan from the Attari-Wagah border to be part of the “historic nagar kirtan” that will be taken out from Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak, on August 1.

It will be for the first time since Partition that such an event has been scheduled to take off from Pakistan.

The SGPC has initiated ‘akhand path’ at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib at 7.30 am today in the presence of SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh, SGPC member Rajinder Singh Mehta and Golden Temple additional manager Ravinder Singh Rubi. The opening ardas was performed by Gurdwara Nankana Sahib priest Bhai Daya Singh and the ‘hukumnama’ was delivered by head granthi Bhai Prem Singh.

Meanwhile, ‘Gurbani kirtan’ was performed by Sikh schoolgirls of Nankana Sahib.

The ‘bhog’ of ‘akhand path’ will be performed two days later on Thursday upon which as the tradition goes, the Panj Pyaras would lead the nagar kirtan.

As the Indian jatha, led by SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal crossed over the border, newly appointed chief of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) Satwant Singh and general secretary Ameer Singh were there on the Wagah side to receive them. Later, they were escorted to Nankana Sahib under heavy security cover.

Prominent among those who accompanied Longowal included Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, Golden Temple head priest Giani Jagtar Singh, Nihang organisation Budha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh, DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Patna Sahib management committee chief Avtar Singh Hit, senior Akali leaders Darbara Singh Guru, Hira Singh Gabaria and Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa.

Special buses were arranged to take the devotees from Wagah to Nankana Sahib. Amidst the recitation of “holy hymns of the Gurus and “Jo bole so nihal”, the devotees reached Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, after a two-hour drive escorted by police vehicles.

The DC of Nankana Sahib and local administration officials were there to receive the jatha. In view of security aspect, the shops were temporarily shut down.

Longowal said the ‘nagar kirtan’ would commence at around 9.30 am on August 1 from Nankana Sahib and enter the same day in India through the Attari-Wagah land route at 12 noon. It would further pass through 65 cities and 17 states before culminating at Gurdwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi in an approximate span of 100 days.

Longowal said it would be an occasion that would work as a conduit to help establish cordial ties between the two sides. “Looking at the enthusiasm of both the sides, I believe that this occasion will bring together the people of ‘Charhda Punjab’ and ‘Lehnda Punjab’. We were overwhelmed at the hospitality extended by the Pakistan SGPC and other supporting organisations,” he said.

Meanwhile, a devotee brought 10 saplings of chandan (sandalwood). He told that these would be planted on the pious land of Nankana Sahib. The SGPC also brought nagaras, Khalsa flags, religious literature and other instruments for the occasion.

Pass edict for joint celebrations: Sarna

Amritsar: SAD (Delhi) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna has requested Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to pass an edict, directing the Sikh community to jointly celebrate the 550th Gurpurb at Nankana Sahib on November 12. He said it would unite the community and send a strong message to anti-Sikh forces. He said already as per Takht directions, the state government and the SGPC would be jointly holding events at Sultanpur Lodhi. Similar efforts must be made for the Parkash Purab celebrations at Nankana Sahib, he said. Tns