Prakashotsava: CM invites Punjab people to visit Patna

PATNA: Chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar on Sunday visited

Takhat Sri Kesgarh Saheb

in Punjab's Anandpur Saheb district, a place that holds immense importance in Sikh history, to receive the 'Jagriti Yatra' which he had flagged off from Patna Saheb last month. The CM walked a few kilometers barefoot in gurdwara to receive the yatra.

He paid obeisance at the gurdwara following which he was presented with 'saropa' (garment of honour) by the Jathedar (the highest priest). Addressing the 'sangat' at the gurdwara, the CM urged the people of Punjab to visit Patna City for the 350th Prakashotsava to be held on January 5 next year.

He said the state government has made elaborate arrangements to receive the sea of humanity which will descend on Patna on the occasion.

The CM said the Bihar government is making three tent cities to accommodate more than 75,000 people. Other accommodation facilities will also be made available in the city, he said.

He said it was a matter of great honour for him to visit Anandpur Saheb, the place where

Guru Gobind Singh

had spent more than 20 years of his life. Nitish said Patna Saheb and Anandpur Saheb, the two of the five takhtas (seats of authority) of Sikhs, are closely related to each other. Principal secretary of tourism department Harjot Kaur, who was camping in Anandpur Saheb for the last few days for CM's visit, said Nitish had made up his mind to visit Anandpur Saheb soon after flagging off the yatra from Patna.

Anandpur Saheb holds an important place in Sikh history because it was from this place that Guru

Gobind Singh

fought a couple of battles against the Mughal rulers. More significantly, Guru Gobind Singh founded 'Khalsa', a new order of Sikhs, at this very place on March 30, 1699. It was the first time that he baptized five Sikhs cutting across caste lines who came to be known as 'Panj Pyaras' and swords were given to them. They took 'amrit' (sacred nectar) from Guru Gobind Singh and the Guru did the vice versa too. This was the first baptisation ceremony of the Sikh history, a tradition which continues till date. Guru Gobind 'Rai' then became Guru Gobind 'Singh' and all male Sikhs adopted 'Singh' as their surname. One of the prime duties of anyone who became Khalsa was to fight for the 'weak and oppressed' and thus at that point in history, Guruji led the army of his people against the Mughal rulers.

Bihar chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, other senior state government officials, senior members of prabandhak committee of Takhat Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Saheb and chairman of Shatabdi Samaroh Committee Gurinder Pal Singh too accompanied the CM.

Senior bureaucrats of the Punjab government and president of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandha Committee Kripal Singh were also present on the occasion.

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Nitish calls on Punjab CM

Chandigarh: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Sunday called on his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal and apprised him about the programmes to be organised by his government to commemorate the 350th 'Parkashotsav' of Guru Gobind Singh at Patna Saheb. "Kumar also invited Badal to Patna Saheb a day prior to the commemoration of the event," a Chief Minister's Office spokesperson said. Kumar was accompanied by Bihar tourism minister Anita Devi.

Accepting his invitation, Badal thanked the Bihar CM for this gesture and assured all support and cooperation on behalf of the Punjab government to make the function a success, the official added. Badal said he had been deeply touched by the devotion and commitment shown by the Bihar CM to Guru Gobind Singh and had been overwhelmed by the magnitude of the events planned for this occasion by the Bihar government, the spokesperson said. PTI