Treading cautiously and carefully following the Sikh rehat maryada (customs and traditions), Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh along with his Cabinet colleagues and in the presence of Sant Samaj ushered in the week-long main celebrations of the 550th prakash purb of Guru Nanak Dev at historic Sultanpur Lodhi on Tuesday by organising a Sehaj Path.
At the same time, Capt Amarinder appealed to one and all not to indulge in any politics or one-upmanship but to commemorate the auspicious event in the spirit of universal harmony, as propagated by the Great Guru. The Chief Minister launched the celebrations by performing the sewa (service) of saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib before the start of Sehaj Path, jointly organised by the Punjab Government, Sikh religious organisations and Sant Samaj at Sri Guru Nanak Darbar.
Describing himself as a humble Sikh with a duty to celebrate the momentous event in a befitting manner, the Chief Minister later told the Sikh sangat gathered from across the state that they all had the privilege of celebrating the grant occasion in their lifetimes.
The Chief Minister invited all to participate in the main function on November 12, and also to visit and take darshan at Kartarpur, the dream of which was set to be realised on November 9 when the Prime Minister opens the Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak.
The state government has been trudging on the cautions ground while organising the celebration events as it has been facing criticism from the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for not abiding by the Akal Takht’s directives to hold joint celebrations.
In fact, the Government in general, and the Congress party in particular, did not want to give any chance to its critics, and thus made every effort to organise the event by vigilantly following the Sikhs customs and traditions by according the importance to the Guru Nanak’s 17th generation descendants Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced a new administrative complex and Rs 150 crores ring road around the heritage city of Sultanpur Lodhi to enhance its connectivity with other cities.
The iconic Quila Sarai, at present doubling up as the Tehsil administrative office, would be preserved by the State Government as heritage building, he said.
Capt Amarinder Singh, along with Cabinet Minister Charnjit Singh Channi, also released four books related with Guru Nanak's philosophy penned and edited by acclaimed Punjabi writers including Surjit Patar. The books - Guru Nanak’s Blessed Trail’, ‘Guru Nanak Bani’, Sone Ka Birkh’ (The Golden Tree) and Guru Nanak Dev Ji Life and Relics’ - have been printed by the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.
Besides, the Chief Minister inaugurated two exhibitions containing relics, manuscripts and rare books associated with Guru Nanak Dev’s life. One, put up by the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department, showcases 53 panels depicting the life of the first Sikh Guru, while the other has been curated by the Punjab Small Industries Export Corporation.
Fully conscious of its duties to observe the historic 550th Prakash Purb in a befitting manner, the state government, said the Chief Minister in his address to the Sikh Sangat, had undertaken many infrastructure development works in both Sultanpur Lodhi and Dera Baba Nanak to make these kasbas into modern heritage towns.
The Chief Minister announced that cleaning and lining of the right bank of the Holy Bein had been completed in the Sultanpur Lodhi section at a cost of Rs 11 crores, in partnership with Sant Seechewal.
“The State Government had also secured approval from the Centre for its proposal to develop Sultanpur Lodhi as a Heritage Town for Rs 271 crore on 50:50 sharing basis, and to set up a Centre for Inter-Faith Studies at GNDU Amritsar at a cost of Rs 175 crores,” he said adding that the Government had also proposed establishment of a Pind Babe Nanak Da (Museum in around 75-80 acres of land) at a cost of Rs 300 crores.
