Reaffirming the Punjab Government’s commitment to celebrating the 650th Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj in a historic and befitting manner, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday flagged off 50 Mobile Documentary Vans to carry Guru Ji’s timeless message of equality, social justice, devotion and universal brotherhood to every corner of the state.
The specially designed campaign will take a 30-minute documentary on the life, philosophy and sacred teachings of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj to nearly 13,000 villages across all 23 districts through LED-equipped mobile vans, ensuring that every household, particularly the younger generation, is inspired by Guru Ji’s vision of an egalitarian society free from discrimination.
The initiative forms a key part of the Bhagwant Mann Government’s year-long programme for the 650th Parkash Purab, for which ₹100 crore has been earmarked to organise a series of events dedicated to honouring and spreading the eternal legacy of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj. Describing the occasion as a matter of immense pride, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that it marks yet another noble initiative reflecting the state’s devotion and reverence towards Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj.
“It is a moment of great pride for all of us as we embark upon yet another noble initiative as a mark of our devotion and reverence to Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj. I was fortunate to have got the opportunity to commemorate the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and now the 650th Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji,” said the Chief Minister.
Highlighting his government's commitment to the celebrations, the Chief Minister said, “The state government is leaving no stone unturned for celebrating the 650th Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji, and a budget of ₹100 crore has been earmarked for this noble cause. It is our collective duty to spread Guru Ji’s message across the globe.”
Underscoring the relevance of Guru Ji’s teachings in the present times, the Chief Minister said, “Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj gave the message of the welfare of entire humanity and equality among all sections of society, thereby creating a society based on egalitarian values. He laid out the concept of an ideal society where no one undergoes suffering of any kind.”
The Chief Minister said the Punjab Government is committed to building a society inspired by the teachings and philosophy of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji. “Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj was a great spiritual ambassador and messiah of the poor and underprivileged, who taught us to lead a virtuous and noble life.
This Parkash Purab is an occasion to rededicate ourselves to creating a society where every human being lives with self-respect and dignity, free from any discrimination,” he said. Sharing details of the initiative, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that a special documentary campaign has been launched to take the life, philosophy and sacred teachings of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji to every household in Punjab.
“Today, 50 mobile documentary vans are being flagged off to travel from village to village and screen this documentary. These vans will cover nearly 13,000 villages across all 23 districts of Punjab, and each van is equipped with a large 12 ft × 8 ft LED screen.
The 30-minute documentary is concise, meaningful and highly impactful, carrying the teachings of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj to the people,” he said. Emphasising the objective of the campaign, the Chief Minister noted, “The primary objective of this initiative is to spread Guru Sahib’s timeless message of social equality and devotion to God to every home.
Through this documentary, the state government aims to connect the younger generation with the noble teachings of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji so that they may contribute towards building an egalitarian and harmonious society. This documentary is a true tribute to Sri Guru Ravidass Ji, who devoted his entire life to eradicating the evils of caste discrimination and social inequality.”
Cabinet Ministers Dr. Ravjot Singh and Tarunpreet Singh Sond were also present on the occasion.