TALWANDI SABO—The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee has launched a campaign titled ‘Gurmat Prachar Lehar’ commemorated to 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji . The program was officially announced on January 21 at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib. Under this campaign, the SGPC will organize weekly programs in Punjab and Haryana to encourage apostate Sikhs towards the Sikh religion.
Hazoori Raagi Jathas of Bhai Nand Singh Ji and Bhai Sahib Singh Ji delighted the Sikh devotees with melodious Kirtan in this program. Renowned Sikh preacher Bhai Baldev Singh Ludhiana addressed the religious discourse on this occasion. SGPC’s Additional Secretary S. Kewal Singh Bhoora Kohna acted as a stage secretary on this occasion.
SGPC appointed Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh Ji encouraged the program attendees to adopt Sikh values.
Addressing the program attendees on this occasion, SGPC President S. Gobind Singh Longowal said that it was duty of every Sikh to follow teachings of our great Guru Sahibans scripted in the holy Gurbani scriptures. He added that it was mandatory to adopt Sikh values to get rid of rapidly expanding social evils like Drug menace, dowry, female infanticide etc. “The SGPC has launched the ‘Gurmat Prachar Lehar’ keeping in view the rising apostasy among youth. A sub-office of this campaign has been installed at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib which will control the campaign in Malwa region” he added.
Hailing the role of Sikh preachers in encouraging masses towards Sikhism, SGPC’s Senior Vice President S. Balwinder Singh Bhundarh appealed the Sikh preachers to adopt methods effectible in the current time period. He added that the Sikh preachers were having tales of great Sikh history and a modern religious philosophy which is capable of attracting anyone to Sikhism.
Sharing the details of program with Sikh24, SGPC’s Additional Secretary S. Diljit Singh Bedi informed that the SGPC has fixed a target of baptizing at least 1,00,000 apostates in Punjab and Haryana by the end of 2018. He added that the two states have been bifurcated into four zones for this purpose. In Punjab, the zones included areas under three Sikh thrones — Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib – while the only zone that has been demarcated in Haryana is at Kurukshetra.
The campaign Gurmat Prachar Lehar started from Takht Damdama Sahib on January 21 will be followed by programme at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in Amritsar on January 28. Another programme is scheduled at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib on February 11. All SGPC members have been roped in to make it a success. Each member will visit at least 20 villages to propagate Sikhism. They will be accompanied by Jathas comprising Raagis, Dhadis, Granthis, preachers and religious study teachers.
