STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: An impressive ‘Nagar-Kirtan’ was taken out by the Sikh community in connection with the Prakash Parv of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, at Jammu.
Organised by the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) Jammu on the eve of Prakash Parv (Gurpurab) of 10th Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj, a large number of Sikh community members, including children from various schools and Ragi Jathas from J&K and outside, participated in the grand religious procession (Shobha Yatra) in the City of Temples today.
Since morning, a large number of Sikh community members, including women and children besides students from various schools in their respective uniforms, started assembling at Gurdwara Yadgar Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Lower Gumat, near the ‘Samadhi’ of Bibi Chand Kour (Chand Nagar), Jammu.
DGPC Jammu members besides organizers from various Sikh bodies jointly organized this grand religious affair.
A vehicle was exquisitely decorated and converted into a chariot, where the Holy Guru Granth Sahib was placed.
The vehicle/chariot was decorated with flowers and buntings and fitted with loud speakers. Besides head priest, several other Sikh religious personalities were on board this specially designed chariot.
As per Sikh religious traditions, five warriors of the great Guru (‘Panj Piyaras’), holding swords in hand and attired in traditional dress code, were leading the chariot, followed by Sikh Sangat and other devotees.
The school children in two lines with band parties ahead were also part of this long religious procession which started from Lower Gumat/ Chand Nagar at around 10.00 am.
Tadi Jatha of Giani Kewal Singh Komal, Bhai Harvinder Singh Parcharak Ganga Nagar Waley, Panthak Kavi Prof. Gurcharan Singh Chaan, Bibi Davinder Kour Dashmesh Kavishri Jatha Mishriwala, Panthak Kavi Bhai Sulakhan Singh Arshi Jammu Waley and local Parcharaks Bhai Rasvinder Singh Simble waley, Bhai Satvir Singh, Bhai Satinder Singh and other Sikh religious personalities were part of the Nagar Kirtan and recited Vaars, recited Kavita. Parcharaks threw light on the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji who made unparallel sacrifices in the history.
The district administration Jammu had made elaborate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of Shobha Yatra.
The traffic had also been diverted to the other alternative routes. Despite diversions, traffic jams were witnessed at several city points, specially, Canal Road, Bakshi Nagar, Railway Road, Satwari and some other parts of the old city.
Chanting religious slogans and sermons, the ‘Shobha Yatra’ kept on moving slowly through the traditional route, via Dogra Chowk, Main Tawi Bridge, Bikram Chowk, Asia Crossing, Green Belt Gandhinagar, Gole Market and then towards Nanak Nagar. It finally, culminated at Gurdwara Singh Sabha at Nanak Nagar at around 5:30 PM.
Display of martial art (Gatka) by the Sikh youth was the main attraction of the procession. Many Sikh youth were displaying different feats, during the display of martial art.
The members of other communities had also established stalls of drinks/sweet water and tea besides fruits and other eatables for the Sikh Sangat en-route ‘Nagart-Kirtan’, depicting a true picture of secular India, besides erecting welcome gates at many places.
At Gole Market, Gandhi Nagar, several DGPC Jammu members including president, Ranjeet Singh addressed the Sangat and threw light on the great sacrifices made by Guru Gobind Singh.
President also thanked both Civil and Police administration for extending their full cooperation for the smooth conduct of Nagar Kirtan.
Balvinder Singh, Vice President DGPC, while addressing the Sangat stated that no doubt PM Narendra Modi took great initiative to organize various programmes to commemorate the martyrdom of Chaar Sahibzada’s of Guru Gobind Singh but on the other hand number of incidence reported from different states where Sikh aspirants were debarred from carrying Kirpan and Kada in the examination Centres so there is a great resentment among the Sikh Community. Surjit Singh General Secretary coordinated the stage.