The Republic Day Tableau of Punjab for 2021 reflects the theme of unparalleled and supreme sacrifice of Ninth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, who laid down his life to uphold the eternal values of humanity, religious co-existence and freedom of faith.Divulging details during press purview before full dress rehearsal, an official spokesperson of Punjab Government said that Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, was born in Amritsar on 1st April 1621. He came to be known by the name Tegh Bahadur (Mighty Of The Sword), given to him by his father Sixth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, after he had shown valour in a battle against the Mughals. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji known as 'Hind Di Chadar' was a great philosopher, a spiritual leader, a poet who composed Gurbani in 15 raagas apart from 57 Shalokas got included in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji by 10th Sikh Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji travelled far and wide preaching Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s eternal message of love, peace, equality and brotherhood amongst the mankind.
Guru Sahib took up the cause of Kashmiri pundits who were facing religious persecution due to the orthodox religious policy of Aurangzeb and was martyred on 11th November, 1675 at Chandni Chowk, Delhi on the orders of the Mughal emperor for refusing to convert to Islam.The entire tableau delineates divine and serene aura marking the 400th Prakash Purb of Ninth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. The tractor portion starts with the holy Palki Sahib (Palanquin). The trailer portion depicts the ‘Prabhat Pheri’ in the beginning with devotees reciting kirtan. The end of the trailer portion shows Gurdwara Sri Rakab Ganj Sahib which marks the site, where Lakhi Shah Vanjara and his son Bhai Naghaiya burnt their own house to cremate the headless body of Guru Sahib.Notably, the tableau of Punjab has been selected for the Republic Day parade for the fifth consecutive year. State’s tableau got the third position in 2019 being the shining achievement, while its tableau on Jallianwala Bagh massacre earned accolades all over. Earlier, in 1967 and 1982 also, the Punjab tableau won the third slot, the spokesperson added.