Darshan Didar Yatra reaches its culmination, vehicle star of show

AMRITSAR: As the ongoing Darshan Didar Yatra organised by the SGPC and the Punjab Government reaches its culmination point at Takht Sri Kesgarh Saheb in Anandpur Saheb the specially designed special purpose vehicle carrying rare Sikh relics fordisplay had everyone intrigued during the entire journey

Updated At : 06:58 AM Jun 19, 2015 IST

<p>The special bus designed while keeping in mind various aspects of Sikhism was one of the highlights during the Darshan Didar Yatra. A file photo</p>

Neha Saini

Tribune News service

Amritsar, June 18

As the ongoing Darshan Didar Yatra, organised by the SGPC and the Punjab Government, reaches its culmination point at Takht Sri Kesgarh Saheb in Anandpur Saheb, the specially designed special purpose vehicle carrying rare Sikh relics fordisplay had everyone intrigued during the entire journey. The yatra aimed at promoting religious and cultural knowledge throughout Punjab, saw an overwhelming response but while most came to visit the spiritual heritage of Sikh history, others were in awe of the hi-tech mode of transportation.

Tejvir Mann, the architect who designed the SPV, feels like a mission accomplished. “It was an honour for me to be a part of something so significant. This project was special for me and even my staff, who made it the most important project of their life,’ he says. The Noida-based architect, who owns Dexterous Designers and Associates, specialises in architectural restoration work and has earlier worked with the Government of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on several projects. “We were selected after a series of presentations by the Punjab Heritage and Culture Promotion Board and I ensured that the vehicle reflected something that was connected to the land and it people.” The one-of-its kind SPV is designed after key historical and cultural elements like the dome shaped roof picked up from Qila Mubarak in Patiala, the golden paint and the transparent display cut-out for the relics. “The vehicle had been installed with four cameras to record every activity and a GPS to track the bus during its journey,” said Tejvir. The project took several months and a little over Rs 2 crore to complete.

Tejvir is currently working on other key projects with the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board. “We are working on architectural restoration at Wadda Ghallughara at Sangurur, Choota Ghallughara, Kahnuwan and the Shaheed Udham Singh Memorial in Sunam. The active restoration work being carried out at several heritage sites by the board is quite commendable and I will be happy to be involved in every possible way,” says Tejvir.