Low profile celebrations on Guru Tegh Bahadur’s anniv

Lucknow: In view of rising cases and Covid restrictions in place, gurdwaras in the city have decided to scale down celebrations and may even cancel some of the events lined up to mark the 400th birth anniversary of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, on May 1.

Gurdwara Yahiyaganj, the place which was constructed in 17th century in the memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who is believed to have stayed at the site when he visited Lucknow while travelling from Patna Sahib in 1670, will organise celebrations only after getting prior permission from the district administration.

“Ragi Jattha (a group of people who recite kirtan and play musical instruments) have been called from Gurdwara Paonta Sahib, Amritsar, Ganganagar and several other places for a programme to be organised at Bal Sangrahalay on April 1.

However, we will go ahead for it only after getting prior permission from the district administration. Besides, Gurdwara Yahiyganj will be open for devotees who can attend ‘shabad-kirtan’ while maintaining Covid protocols,” said Manmohan Singh of Gurdwara Yahiyganj.

Naka Hindola, Alambagh and Mansarovar gurdwaras will also do away with large processions around the city.

“Nagar Kirtan and Jagriti Yatra will be cancelled since large crowd of devotees might want to join. Essay competitions in schools and colleges are likely to be postponed. We are plannning to organise smaller events which can be live-streamed online. We will distribute literature on the Sikh guru and ‘langar sewa’ will be organised for the public amid Covid safety precautions like we have been doing since lockdown,” said Satpal Singh Meet, religious secretary of Gurdwara Naka Hindola.

Earlier in February, UP Punjabi Academy had organised a theatre show in Ravindralaya on the life and times of the Sikh guru.