M A I N   N E W S

Badal flags off Khalsa march
By Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, April 8 — An impressive ceremony and an equally imposing march to mark the culmination of the year-long tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, aimed at spreading the message of “Manas ki Jat Sabhe Eke Pehchanbo’’ (all human beings have one identity), was flagged off from the historic Nada Sahib Gurdwara, near here today.

The message of uniting the people under one banner without discrimination, in consonance with the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh, the founder of Khalsa and the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, was conveyed to the sangat in speeches of political leaders present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who later flagged off the Khalsa march, said that a Khalsa Heritage Centre to house artefacts of Sikh culture was being developed at Anandpur Sahib at a cost of Rs 250 crore and that the best architect and biggest company had been signed for the purpose.

He urged the Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to allot about 25 acres around the gurdwara for the SGPC to make arrangements and facilitate further development in view of changing times. He said that the purpose behind organising the tercentenary function at Anandpur Sahib had met with tremendous success since it had achieved to the purpose of brining diverse people on one platform and that he was expecting the march to achieve the same in Haryana.

The President of the SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur, in a fiery speech decried approach of digressing from the path shown by the Gurus. She said this led to decline in the credibility of the Sikh religion.`We must not use these platforms only to make speeches and preach the teachings. Instead, we must concentrate on putting each of these into practice and contribute towards making a classless society,’’ she added.

“Sikhi sarup sambhna hi saada pehla kum hona chahida hai. Lokan nu amrit chhkaan naal kam nahin chalna,’’ she opined the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh could come to the rescue of the Sikh religion and help in its amelioration.

Also, Mr Ajay Chautala, Member of Parliament, recalled the sacrifice of the 10th Guru and created the Khalsa force to save humanity from the tyranny unleashed by the Mughal rulers. Jathedar of Damdama Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh, urged that the area of the Guru Gobind Singh Marg should be identified and beautified.

Others who spoke at the function included Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Mr Surjit Singh Nidder, Mr Sampat Singh and Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu.

Members of the Miri Piri Academy of Amritsar, run by Sant Harbhajan Singh Yogi, hailing from the USA, Canada, France and Germany, recited a “shabad” following which an “akhand path” was held.

Outside the specially erected pandal, the three horses of the breed used by Guru Gobind Singh were the cynosure of all eyes. Devotees craned their necks to catch a glimpse of Dilbagh Singh, Gulbagh Singh and Heera Singh, decked up and looking resplendent in their finery. An attendant, between feeding the three horses, took time off to explain to the gathering that Dilbagh Singh was a direct descendant of the "Maharaj ki sawari’’ while Gulbagh Singh’s breed was used by the Panj Pyaras and Heera Singh’s breed had been allotted the task of carrying the “nagadawalhas’’.

Also, on display outside the gurdwara were the arms, swords and pens used by Guru Gobind Singh.

Finally, at 10:30 am the Khalsa march was flagged off by Mr Badal amidst the beating of the 'nagadas’ and the frequent calls of ``Bole So Nihal Satsriakal’’ and ``Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh’’. The Panj Pyaras marched ahead of the flower-bedecked van carrying the Guru Granth Sahib even as `nihangs’ performed gatka with dexterity.

The march, after passing through various districts of Haryana, will conclude at Yamunanagar on April 13, on Baisakhi. En route, during halts at night, a light and sound programme, ``Bole So Nihal’’, will be organised.