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Lakhs throng Talwandi Sabo
Our Correspondent

Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo), April 13
Baisakhi which is celebrated in the region with great enthusiasm, particularly in Punjab, was marked with festivity here today.

Although mild rain and wind swept the region this morning, they failed to dampen the spirit of devotees. Lakhs of devotees thronged Talwandi Sabo to take a dip at the holy sarovar and pay obeisance at one of the five Takhts of Sikhs.

Not only Punjabis but people from all over the country and a large number of NRIs thronged Talwandi Sabo. The rush of devotees was unprecedented and the district administration had made all arrangements for the smooth conduct of the mela. A large number of police personnel, and mahila police squads were deployed.

A large number of devotees video filmed the fair. The Baisakhi fairs in 1999 and 2000 were marked with the celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib and so the rush of devotees had reduced significantly.

“Bhang” a favourite of Nihangs, was freely available. The mild showers lowered the temperature.

Although the district administration had arranged special buses for the mela, people were seen coming by all modes of transport, including bullock-carts, scooters, cars, tractor-trailers camel-driven carts and other vehicles.

The gurdwara was beautifully lit and people were seen standing in long queues to get “karah prasad” from the gurdwara.

The melas of Maghi and Baisakhi hold great importance in the religious and political spheres of the state.

The Baisakhi of Nihangs will be celebrated tomorrow and traditional sports of Nihangs would be organised giving a view of the great martial tradition of the race.

Secularism will be projected, says Badal
Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 13
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, inaugurating the bicentenary celebrations of the coronation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Punjabi University here today, said the message of secularism preached by the last sovereign king would be spread throughout the country during the celebrations and that he would also be accorded national recognition with his statue being installed outside Parliament.

Speaking at a seminar dedicated to the late king here, the Chief Minister said politicians used the term secularism to gain votes, but Maharaja Ranjit Singh practised it to become acceptable to people of all religions. He said real secularism was important in the present democratic set-up and that this would be highlighted during the course of the celebrations.

The Chief Minister said a national-level function would be held at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi which would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister and a statue of the Maharaja riding a horse would be installed in front of Parliament House. He said a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh would be given to an outstanding personality. An international function would be held at Amritsar in November to mark his birth anniversary, he said.

The Chief Minister said the government would soon announce a detailed programme to celebrate the bicentenary and a permanent committee would formulate programmes and monitor their implementation.

He also laid the foundation stone of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh kala bhavan on the university campus.

Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia said Maharaja Ranjit Singh endeavoured to usher in an open, pluralistic society characterised by secularism, justice, liberty and equality.

He said Maharaja Ranjit Singh blended the Sikh religious tradition and Punjabi nationality. The tolerant and secular polity of the Maharaja was rooted in the universal values of the Sikh religion.

Mr Badal unveiled a full-length portrait of Maharaja. Three outstanding personalities — Mr Tarlochan Singh, Vice-Chairman, Minorities Commission of India, Mr Kartar Singh Duggal, a noted writer, and Dr Jean Marie Lofont from France — were given the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awards.

Later, a key note address was given at the first session of the two-day Punjabi development conference. Dr Dhanwant Kaur, Head of the Department of Punjabi Development, said the conference would be spread over six sessions and scholars from Punjab and other states would deliberate on Punjabi literature during the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.