SULTANPUR LODHI, Punjab—On November 9, the apex Sikh body SGPC organized a competition of Dhadis at Sultanpur Lodhi under the international events running on the eve of 550 years birth ceremony of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Dhadi Jathas connected the sangat with Sikh history in the events held at the Bhai Mardana Ji Memorial Diwan Hall of the historic Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib. In these competitions, Bhai Inderjit Singh’s Jatha secured first position while Satnam Singh’s Jatha got second place and Bhai Manpreet Singh’s Jatha stood third in this competition.
The winner Dhadi jathas were awarded with cash prizes of Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 51,000 respectively. These cash awards were given to the winner Dhadi Jathas by the secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Mahinder Singh Ahli and Bhai Jaswinder Singh Shahur.
The Jathas included Bhai Lakhbir Singh, Bhai Kharag Singh Pathankot, Bhai Puran Singh Aarshi, Bibi Ranveer Kaur, Bhai Kashmir Singh and Bhai Pradeep Singh Pandhi’s Dhadi Jathas.
Bibi Jasbir Kaur, Principal of Gurmat College Patiala, Bhai Sawinder Singh Bhangu, Bhai Baldev Singh Longowal and S. Jaswant Singh Kurukshetra played the role of Judges during these competitions.
Speaking on the occasion, SGPC secretary Mohinder Singh Ahli said that Dhadi art is a fundamental tradition of singing Sikh history. “The new generations receive enthusiasm and get encouraged as they listen to their history,” he added.
He told that the SGPC has always encouraged the Jathas singing poetry in “Pakka Ragas”. In order to uplift the Dhadi tradition, the SGPC is also running a Dhadi Vidyalaya at Guru Ki Wadali (Amritsar) in the name of Shiromani Dhadi Giani Sohan Singh Sital.
Preacher Bhai Jaswinder Singh Shahur appealed to the Dhadi Jathas to sing in “Pakka Raag” only.
On this occasion, Shiromani Committee member S. Swaran Singh Kullar, Bibi Gurpreet Kaur Ruhi, Additional Secretary of Shiromani Committee Pratap Singh, Deputy Secretary Simarjit Singh, S. Harjeet Singh Lalu Ghuman S. Sulakhan Singh Bhangali, Manager of Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib S. Satnam Singh Riar, S. Major Singh, Chief Preacher, Jagdev Singh preacher and Harjit Singh Sultanpur Lodhi were also present at this occasion.
