Chandigarh, May 1: Amid the Covid curbs, Punjab ChiefMinister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday virtually joined the people inoffering ‘Ardas’ of ‘Charhdi Kala’ and ‘Sarbat Da Bhala’, to mark theauspicious 400th Prakash Purb celebrations of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib ji.
Praying for the safety and well-being of all in thesechallenging pandemic situation, Capt. Amarinder Singh exhorted the people tofollow Guru Ji’s universal message of love, secularism, religious tolerance,freedom of faith and peaceful co-existence.
Terming it an occasion to spread the message of Guru Sahib’ssupreme sacrifice for the sake of humanity and religious freedom, the ChiefMinister said the life and philosophy of the 9th Guru remains a beacon ofinspiration for the world.
Capt. Amarinder Singh further said that he was extremelyblessed to lead his government, in its previous tenure, to celebrate the 400thanniversary of the installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Sri HarmandirSahib in 2004, Amritsar, and in constructing various memorials, including onededicated to ‘40 Mukte’ (Liberated Ones) at Sri Muktsar Sahib, and severalcommemorative gates at Fatehgarh Sahib. “We have also been also fortunate tocelebrate the 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and 350th PrakashPurb of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji during our present tenure,” he added.
The Chief Minister further said that the State Governmenthad made elaborate arrangements to celebrate this mega event with Nagar Kirtanfrom Guru Ka Mahal (Amritsar) to Sri Anandpur Sahib, Sri Akhand Path &Kirtan Darbar at Sri Anandpur Sahib, besides holding an exhibition on the lifeand teachings of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, an exhibition on Handicrafts, thePunjabi Literary Festival, Drama (Hind-di-Chadar), Sports event, Multi- MediaLight and Sound Show and a Sufi Music Festival. However, the second and deadlywave of Covid had forced change in plans and these events are now being held invirtual format to avoid large gatherings and ensure public safety. As and whenthe situation improved during the year-long celebrations, grand events will beheld on the ground to commemorate the historic occasion, he said.
To mark the occasion today, a day-long Kirtan Darbar hadbeen organised, in which several prominent raagis including Bhai Gurmeet SinghShant, Bhai Manjit Singh Shant, Dr. Nivedita Uppal, Bhai Gagandeep SinghGanganagar Wale, Bhai Sukhjinder Singh, Bhai Arvinder Singh Noor, Bhai TarBalbir Singh and Bhai Balwant Singh Namdhari were performing live kirtan onvarious TV channels and digital platforms.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister released a coffee tablebook-“Pargat Bhae Gur Teg Bahadur”, brought out by the Times of India group,and a commemorative book highlighting the events related to life and philosophyof Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib published by the Information and PublicRelations Department.
Speaking on the occasion, the Tourism & Cultural AffairsMinister Charanjit Singh Channi said that Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib made thesupreme sacrifice to protect the religious rights of others to set an examplefor the world.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President SunilJakhar exhorted the people to follow the path of righteousness in the truetradition of humanity, as illustrated by Guru Sahib.