Chandigarh, November 11 - On the auspicious occasion of the 350th martyrdom year of the head of the country, Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the second holy Nagar Kirtan Yatra began on Tuesday from the holy land of Pinjore in Panchkula district of Haryana. On this occasion, an Ardas program was organized at Gurudwara Sri Guru Nanak Darbar, village Gorakhnath in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Shri Nahib Singh. The Chief Minister prayed in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and wished the people of the state for prosperity.
During the program, the Chief Minister also announced that the Government Polytechnic, Ambala will be named after Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
Chief Minister Shri Naib Singh Saini said that Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is the first great hero of human rights not only of the Sikh community or India but also of the entire world. He sacrificed his life for the protection of religion and the country. The Chief Minister said that this second Nagar Kirtan Yatra, started from Pinjore, is a comprehensive campaign to convey the message of Guru's penance, renunciation, thoughts and protection of religion to the masses.
**Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Chief Guest of Kurukshetra Mahasamagam on the Martyrdom Year of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
He said that on the occasion of the 350th martyrdom year of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, four holy Nagar Kirtan Yatras are being taken out across the state which will pass through all the districts of Haryana. These Yatras will conclude in Kurukshetra on 24th November. The next day, on November 25, a Mahasamagam will be organized in Kurukshetra on the martyrdom year of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, in which Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be the chief guest.
The Chief Minister said that Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji has a deep connection with the holy land of Haryana. In the year 1665, he transferred the headquarters of the Sikh Panth to Dhamtan Sahib (Pargana Jind, Bangar Desh-present Haryana). In the same year, while traveling from Bangar Desh to Lohgarh, he met the Sangat in Jind, Kaithal, Chika, Karah, Siana Saida and Pehwa and gave them the message to follow the path of religion. After this, Guru Ji visited Barna village, Thanesar, Ladwa and Yamunanagar areas of Kurukshetra district.
The Chief Minister said that the people of Haryana are very fortunate that the holy feet of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji touched this land. During his pilgrimage, he provided supernatural knowledge to the devotees and inspired them to protect the religion.
Chief Minister Shri Naib Singh Saini said that the festivals of our great men and Gurus are being celebrated on a grand scale by the Haryana Government. He informed that the state government is organizing the 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at the state level in a grand manner with devotion and respect. He said that this event is being led by the President of Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee Sardar Jagdish Singh Jhinda who is continuously promoting these yatras.
Mentioning the various works done by the state government, the Chief Minister said that a research chair has been established in the name of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa so that the coming generations can research on his life philosophy and contribution. The medical college being built in Yamunanagar has also been named after Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, which will be completed soon and dedicated to the public.
The Chief Minister said that the road from Panchkula to Ponta Sahib has been named after Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Similarly, a college located in Assandh has been named after the younger son of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Also, a VLDA College has been established in the name of Mata Gujri Devi in ??Lakhnaur Sahib, the granddaughter of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, which is a symbol of respect for the Guru tradition and our cultural heritage.
On this occasion, Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee President Sardar Jagdish Singh Jhinda, Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee Vice President Sardar Gurmit Singh Ramsar, Sardar Baljit Singh Daduwal, Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma, Karthikeya Sharma, MLA Shaktirani Sharma, District President Ajay Mittal, former Assembly Speaker Gianchand Gupta, Banto Kataria, OSD Dr. Prabhleen Singh, Om Prakash Devinagar, Sardar Gulab Singh, Bibi Kartar Kaur and other dignitaries were also present.
**Nagar Kirtan Yatra will be held in Panchkula district from 11 to 14 November
This Nagar Kirtan Yatra will start from Gurudwara Shri Nanak Darbar village Gorakhnath on 11 November and will pass through villages Mandhawala, Nanakpur, Karanpur, Johluwal, Kiratpur, Lohgarh, Kheda Basla and will reach Gurudwara Shri Manjisahib Pinjore, where they will rest for the night. Similarly, on the second day, 12 November, the Nagar Kirtan Yatra will start from Gurudwara Shri Manjisahib Pinjore and will pass through Kalka, Tipra, Mallamor, Himshikha, CRPF camp and will reach Gurudwara Singh Sahib Bakhshiwala and will stop for the night.
On the third day, on November 13, the Nagar Kirtan Yatra will start from Gurudwara Singh Sahib Bakhshiwala and will pass through Gurudwara Himshikha, Gurudwara DLF, Armavati, Chandi Mandir, Old Panchkula, Majri Chowk and will reach Gurudwara Shri Nada Sahib Panchkula where it will rest for the night. On the fourth day, on November 14, starting from Gurudwara Nada Sahib, this Nagar Kirtan Yatra will reach Gurudwara Manak Tabra via village Manakaya.