The Punjab government would commemorate the historic 350th year of Birth Celebrations of the tenth master of Sikhs Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in the most befitting manner to disseminate his life, works and ideology amongst the mankind across the globe.Presiding over a high level meeting here to review the arrangements of this gala event at his official residence this morning, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal said that all of us were fortunate enough to celebrate this great occasion during our lifetime and we should not miss any opportunity to commemorate the same at a mass scale level with utmost religious fervor and gaiety.Taking part in the deliberations, the Chief Minister approved the Grand Pandaal to be constructed at Gandhi ground in Patna for the lacs of devotees, who were expected to participate in the various functions beginning from 1-5 January, 2017 and asked the President, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar to finalize all the modalities regarding the design and size of Pandaal. The Chief Minister also gave his nod for the tent city to be installed there at a suitable site in Patna to provide temporary stay arrangements to nearly 15,000 to 20,000 devotees.
Mr. Badal also asked both the Presidents of SGPC and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to make necessary arrangements for running four and two special trains from Punjab and Delhi respectively for ferry the devotees to Takht Sri Patna Sahib on this historic occasion. He directed the Director, Tourism and Cultural Affairs to tie up with the authorities of Indian Railways for the requisition and time schedule of these special trains. The Chief Minister also finalized the destinations viz. Amritsar, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Sri Fatehgarh Sahib from where these trains would chug off to take devotees from Punjab to Patna.Referring to the Sikh International Conclave to be held in Patna from 8-10 June, 2016, the Chief Minister asked the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala Dr. Jaspal Singh to provide a list of eminent Sikh intellectuals and scholars for the same. Apart from this, the Chief Minister also gave a nod for organizing a series of six seminars/symposiums on the life and ideology of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji at prominent places like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Punjabi University Patiala and Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, which would be attended by the renowned Sikh scholars and academicians of national and international repute to throw ample light on the multifaceted personality of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The dates and venue would be decided later on. Besides this, a Kavi Samelan (Poetic Recitation) competition would also be held at historic Poanta Sahib, where Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji often held Kavi Darbars and honoured the prominent poets for their master piece creations. The Chief Minister also asked the SGPC to organize Kirtan Darbars at various religious places/shrines connected with Sri Guru Goind Singh Ji like Sri Poanta Sahib, Dina Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded.
The Chief Minister also gave approval to SGPC to run a specially designed vehicle displaying the relics of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji from Sri Anandpur Sahib to Patna on the route, which was followed by Tenth Master. The said itinerary of the journey and the time schedule indicating halts at various places on the route would be finalized by the SGPC and the requisite logistics would be provided by the state government.The Chief Minister also asked the state Chief Secretary to coordinate with the Bihar government on regular basis so as to ensure the commemoration of this greatest religious event in a perfect manner. Mr. Badal also constituted a six member committee comprising MP Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Member Rajya Sabha Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Cabinet Minister Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal, Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary Tourism and Cultural Affairs Mrs. Anjali Bhawra and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minster Mr. K.J.S. Cheema to coordinate and oversee the arrangements of this mega event.
Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included MP Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Member Rajya Sabha Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal and Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal (both Cabinet Ministers), Chairman Punjab Technical Education Board Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Mr. D.P. Reddy, Principal Secretary Tourism and Cultural Affairs Mrs. Anjali Bhawra and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minster Mr. K.J.S. Cheema, Director Tourism and Cultural Affairs Mr. Navjotpal Singh Randhawa, Director Information & Public Relations Dr. Senu Duggal, President SGPC Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar, President DSGMC Mr. Manjit Singh GK, General Secretary DSGMC Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Chairman of Punjabi Cultural Coordination Board Mr. Avtar Singh Hit, Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Patiala Dr. Jaspal Singh and eminent historian Dr. Indu Banga.