JAMMU: Sikhs organised a colourful Nagar Kirtan (religious procession) in the city ahead of Guru Gobind Singh’s Birth Anniversary on Saturday.
The most important and major festival of the community, 349th Prakash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru and founder of the Khalsa Panth, will be celebrated on 5th January.
The District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee of Jammu today organised a colourful Nagar Kirtan, which started from Sri Guru Nanak Dev Gurudwara Chand Nagar and passed through Samadian Road, Vinayak Chowk, Dogra Chowk, Green Belt Gandhi Nagar, Gole Market and concluded at Gurdwara Sri Singh Sabha, Nanak Nagar, Jammu. The procession started at 10:00 AM and concluded at 5:00 PM.
More than 5,000 devotees took part in the procession. Palki Sahib led the procession in which Guru Granth Sahib was carried in a beautifully decorated vehicle along with Nishaan Sahibs.
The procession was marked by rendering of Shabad Kirtan by different Jathas of men, women and children. Besides that Panj Pyaras (five beloved ones) in their traditional attire were the centre of attraction all along the procession.
The major attraction of the procession was the display of Gatka, a Sikh martial art, and other breathtaking sword exercises.
Besides this, many types of presentations were held in which horse riders were decorated in traditional Khalsa uniforms followed by children from various schools.