Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday offered prayers at the holy Takht Sri Patna Sahib Gurudwara to mark the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.Captain Amarinder participated in the prayers at the Darbar Hall in the gurudwara after a parikrama of the sanctum sanctorum. He was welcomed by the chairman of the anniversary celebration committee.The head granthi of the shrine of Patna Sahib, or Takht Sri Harmendir Sahib as it’s called, presented to the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president a saropa and shawl on the occasion.Captain Amarinder later visited the replica of the shrine at the historic Gandhi Maidan and listened to the nagar kirtan along with thousands of devotees who had come from far and wide to join the historic celebrations. He did langar sewa before himself partaking langar prasad.He was also presented a saropa by langar sewadar at the Gandhi maidan.
The PPCC president said it was a cherished moment for him as Guru Gobind Singh had played an important part in shaping Sikh religious history and was considered by people from all communities as a reformer who was not just a spiritual master but also a philosopher with an ideology that extended beyond the barriers of caste and religion.Guru Gobind Singh’s teachings are an integral part of Sikh ideology and are religiously followed by people in their everyday life, said Captain Amarinder, adding that the establishment of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh is considered one of the most important events in the history of Sikhism.Addressing the gathering at Gandhi Maidan, Captain Amarinder spoke about his family's close association with Guru Gobind Singh Ji. "From Anandpur Sahib, the first hukumnama was sent to my family by Guru Gobind Singh. Again hukumnama along with eleven shastra (weapons), which still holds a place of pride at my Patiala residence, were sent to my family from Damdama Sahib", said PPCC president.Captain Amarinder appreciated the excellent arrangements made by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his government to ensure that the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh were a resounding success.
No effort appeared to have been spared to make the occasion a seamless experience for the lakhs of devotees thronging the city to participate in the celebrations, he added.The Punjab Congress president was accompanied by Asha Kumari, AICC in-charge of Punjab affairs, besides his grandson Nirvan Singh, close associate BIS Chahal and Karan Sekhon, OSD alongwith several Bihar ministers, MPs and MLAS as well as other state Congress leaders including President Bihar Congress and Minister Education & IT Dr. Ashok Choudhary, Bihar Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Madan Mohan Jha, MP Shakeel Ahmad, Bihar Animal Husbandry Minister Awadhesh Kumar Singh and Bihar Congress MLA, Bhavna Jha.Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna, Bihar, on December 22, 1666, and spent his early years in the city, which was also honoured by visits from Guru Nanak and Guru Teg Bahadur.The gurdwara was built in remembrance of Guru Gobind Singh and is thronged by lakhs of Sikh devotees every year.December 2016 marked the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh and is being celebrated at Patna Sahib with special programmes at the shrine. The shrine is the centre of attraction for Sikhs from around the world, who visit the holy place to pay their obeisance and seek blessings.