Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

Akhand path, ardas set off celebratio­ns at Patna Sahib

- Mukesh Kumar Mishra letters@hindustant­imes.com

PATNA: The jathedars ( head priests) of four Sikh takhts (holiest shrines) and a representa­tive of the jathedar of the fifth takht on Sunday signalled the beginning of celebratio­ns leading to the 350th birth anniversar­y of Guru Gobind Singh in 2017.

The 350th birthday function of the 10th Sikh guru will be held at Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib in Patna, his place of birth, on January 5, 2017. Lakhs of Sikh pilgrims from across the world are expected to attend the event.

After two days of ‘akhand path’ at Takht Sri Patna Sahib the jathedars performed ‘ardas’ before announcing the celebratio­ns at a joint press conference that was attended by members of the Takht Harmandirj­i management committee.

Present on the occasion we r e jathedars of Akal Takht (Amritsar), Keshgarh Sahib ( Anandpur, Punjab), Patna Sahib, Hazoor Sahib (Nanded, Maharashtr­a) and a representa­tive of jathedar of Damdama Sahib ( Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda, Punjab).

Addressing re por ters, Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said the detailed programme of the celebratio­ns leading to the main event in January 2017 would be released in the coming days.

Gurbachan Singh appealed to members of the Sikh community the world over to donate 10% of their income for making the event successful. He hoped both state and central government­s would cooperate fully in making the event a success.

The Akal Takht jathedar said Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar, president Avtar Singh, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK had assured him of all help.

“We invite people from all sections of society from all over the world to participat­e and contribute to make the function in January 2017 a grand success,” the jathedar said. The head priest also asked to members of the Takht Harmandirj­i management committee to forget their difference­s and join hands for the function which, he said, would be attended by more than 10 lakh devotees from all over the world.

Takht Sri Harmandirj­i general secretary Sarjinder Singh said a celebratio­n committee would be constitute­d soon to oversee preparatio­ns for the main function and a series of programmes to be organised ahead of it.

Men, women and children had gathered at the gurdwara since morning to attend the day’s events leading to ‘ardas’. Later, Guru’s prasad was distribute­d among them.

President of Gurbani Prachar Seva Kendra LM Upadhyay gave a copy of the book ‘Guru Gobind Singh Ki Atamkatha’ to the priests of the five takhts.

We invite people from all sections of society to participat­e and contribute to make the function in January 2017 a grand success GIANI GURBACHAN SINGH, Akal Takht jathedar

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? Prayers being offered at Takht Sri Patna Sahib.
HT PHOTO Prayers being offered at Takht Sri Patna Sahib.

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