CHANDIGARH, Punjab—The 400th Parkash Purab (birth anniversary) of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was celebrated with devotion and respect at Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal and Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Prominent personalities of the Sikh community attended the fourth centenary birth celebration events of the ninth Guru and emphasized their views on the need to uphold the ideology of the Guru Sahib.
Speaking at the event organized on the stage of Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall situated within Sri Darbar Sahib, SGPC appointed officiating Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh extended congratulations to the sangat and encouraged to get ready for the welfare of humanity.
He said the ninth Guru strengthened the importance of social and faith-related values in society and gave his martyrdom for humanity.
“While celebrating the 400th Parkash Purab of the ninth Guru in the present times of Covid-19 pandemic, the entire Sikh community should establish a state-of-the-art hospital where free treatment should be available to the patients. This task can’t be accomplished by a single organization so the entire Sikh community would have to come forward for this humanitarian cause,” said Giani Harpreet Singh.
“The suggestion of the representatives, think-tanks of the community, sangat settled in the country and abroad will be awaited in this regard,” he added.
Giani Harpreet Singh also asked the Sikh community to work hard for a cleaner environment by growing trees especially the Fig (Pippal) tree.
“In the prevalent environment of fear due to Cvid-19’s second wave, most of the deaths are taking place due to shortage of oxygen. As per the information received, the problems are getting worse due to a shortage of oxygen. It becomes more important to uphold the Gurus’ ideology in this regard. I appeal to every Sikh to plant one tree each especially the Pippal tree as it releases a high quantity of oxygen”, said Giani Harpreet Singh.
Speaking about the ongoing farmers’ protest against the Centre’s three agriculture laws, Giani Harpreet Singh said, “I ask the Government of India to seriously resolve the issue of farmers on the occasion of the 400th Parkash Purab of the ninth Guru. The government should make a decision with open heart, so that, the farmers could return to their homes.”
- Gurbani (holy writings) of ninth Guru to be published in five languages and highlighted through audio-video modes: Bibi Jagir Kaur
- Will make documentary films on the life journey of the ninth Guru, by recording places which he visited: Bibi Jagir Kaur
- Bibi Jagir Kaur announces to set up a chair in the name of ninth Guru at Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib
In the centenary event, SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur paid homage and respect to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and announced that through the documentary film the life journey of the ninth Guru would be presented before the sangat settled in the country and abroad and his Gurbani (holy writings) would be published and delivered to the sangat in five languages.
“The life of the ninth Guru is of great philanthropy for humanity, which has given a revolutionary message in the faith-history of the world. It is not a small thing to give martyrdom for saving other’s faith and values”, said Bibi Jagir Kaur.
She said that the entire life journey and ideology of the ninth Guru would be presented before the sangat through modern mediums.
“SGPC will also make documentaries on lives of the Sikhs associated with the ninth Guru including Baba Makhan Shah Lubana, Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, Bhai Dayala Ji, and others. A list of 12 films has been made and five scripts are ready and these would be released soon. This entire work would be completed with the motivation of the Singh Sahibs”, said Bibi Jagir Kaur.
Bibi Jagir Kaur also announced, “A Sateek (literary volume containing text along with translation, exposition, and explanation) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib would be prepared in five languages similar to the one scribed by Bhai Sahib Singh. This is being done with a motive so that people of different languages can understand the ideology of Gurbani. Also in the coming four-five months, 57 Shlok and 59 Shabds (hymns) from Gurbani of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib would be translated in five languages and delivered to the sangat.”
Bibi Jagir Kaur further announced, “A chair would be set-up in the name of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib and houses would be set-up in the name of Sikhs associated with him and researches would be carried out.”
She added that a preparatory institute is also being established at Patiala to prepare Gursikh youths for competitive exams like IAS, IPS, PCS, NDA, and others.
Talking about the limited events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Bibi Jagir Kaur said, “Due to Covid-19 pandemic, we could not celebrate the events at grand-level but these events would not stop here and would be organized throughout the year. The sangat should pay obeisance and devotion to the Guru by sitting at their homes with families and share stories of Guru Ji and connect to his Gurbani.”
SGPC president thanked prominent Panthik personalities and sangat from home and abroad who attended the event.
Several Panthik personalities expressed their views in the event
During the centenary celebrations at Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, several prominent Sikh Panthik personalities expressed their views with the sangat.
Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib head granthi Giani Jagtar Singh, Jathedar Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh, Gauhar-e-Maskin Jathedar of Takht Sri Patna Sahib Giani Ranjit Singh, head of Damdami Taksal Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, Tarna Dal head Baba Nihal Singh Harian Velan, Dal Baba Bidhi Chand head Baba Avtar Singh Sursingh, SGPC chief secretary Adv Harjinder Singh Dhami, Bhai Sukhjit Singh Ghanayia on behalf of Buddha Dal paid homage to Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and appealed to the sangat to adopt Guru’s ideology and adopt Bani and Baana (Gurbani and traditional Sikh attire). The speakers termed the contribution made by the ninth Guru Ji for the sake of humanity as a new step in the faith-history of the world. They said that in the present times it is very important to live according to the teachings of the Guru, because today’s man is facing many problems. They also congratulated the devotees of the Guru Nanak’s name on the 400th birth anniversary of the ninth Guru.
Meanwhile, Giani Maan Singh and former Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Prof Manjit Singh shared his views with the sangat and the Hazoori Raagis of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib Bhai Ravinder Singh, Bhai Sukhjinder Singh, Bhai Satnam Singh Kuharka, Bhai Zora Singh, and students of Shaheed Sikh Missionary College Sri Amritsar, Bebe Nanaki Sikh Missionary College Sultanpur Lodhi and Baba Bidhi Chand Ji Gurmat Sangeet Vidyalaya, Fatehgarh Sahib connected the sangat with Gurbani Kirtan.
During the function, renowned Sikh musicians Giani Nirmal Singh Noor, Bhai Gurbhej Singh Chawinda, kavishar (poet) Bhai Gurinderpal Singh Bainkan, and Bhai Gurjant Singh’s group presented the history of the ninth Gurub through ballads and poems.
Books released
A special souvenir highlighting the life history and ideology of the ninth Guru was also released during the centenary celebrations. Apart from this, the books including Pragat Bhaye Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Di Paawan Jeevan Yatra, and Sri Paonta Sahib Da Khooni Saka were also released for the sangat.
For the sangat that could not reach and attend the events, the SGPC had arranged live broadcasts through various channels due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jalau (pomp-show) organized at Sri Harmandar Sahib, Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib
In connection with the birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, Jalau (pomp-show) were organized at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib, in which historical objects of Toshakhana (treasure house or chest) were displayed for the glimpse of the sangat. Meanwhile, sangat paid obeisance at Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal and Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib. Gurbani Kirtan continued to be sung at Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal. Langars (community kitchens) were arranged for the sangat by the SGPC and various dignitaries. The shrine of Guru Sahib was decorated with beautiful flowers on the occasion of the centenary celebrations. Apart from the roads leading to Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, reception gates were also set-up in the city.
Personalities who attended this historic event
During the centenary celebrations, additional head granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib Giani Jagtar Singh, SGPC senior vice-president S. Surjit Singh Bhitewad, junior vice-president Baba Buta Singh, general secretary Adv S. Bhagwant Singh Sialka, senior Akali leader S. Gulzar Singh Ranike, ex-Jathedars Prof Manjit Singh, Giani Gurbachan Singh, and Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Baba Gajjan Singh Tarna Dal, Baba Narinder Singh Hazur Sahib Wale, Baba Gurdev Singh Shahidi Bagh, Baba Darshan Singh Tahla Sahib, Baba Satnam Singh, Baba Sucha Singh, Baba Sukhwinder Singh Bhuriwale, Baba Jassa Singh, Baba Tirlok Singh Khiala, SGPC executive committee member S. Satwinder Singh Tohra, S. Navtej Singh Kauni, S. Baldev Singh Chunghan, S. Ajmer Singh Khera, S. Bhupinder Singh Bhalwan, SGPC member Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, Bhai Manjit Singh Bhurakohna, Bhai Ram Singh, S. Harpal Singh Jalla, S. Bawa Singh Ghumanpura, S. Jasjit Singh Khalsa, S. Jagsir Singh Mangeana, S. Gurinderpal Singh Gora, S. Sarwan Singh Kular, S. Gurnam Singh Jassal, S. Gurmeet Singh Buh, S. Satpal Singh Talwandi Bhai, S. Jagtar Singh Rode, Bhai Ajaib Singh Abhayasi, S. Sukhwarsh Singh Pannu, S. Jarnail Singh Dogranwala, Baba Singh Gumanpura, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, S. Kuldeep Singh Tera, S. Gurpartap Singh Tikka, Baba Major Singh, Baba Sukhwinder Singh Malikpur, Baba Jeet Singh Jaulanwale, Bibi Sarwan Kaur Thera, Baba Hari Singh Kaleranwale, Bhai Navtej Singh Kathwachak, Swami Ji Hoshiarpurwale, SGPC secretary S. Mahinder Singh Ahli, S. Sukhdev Singh Bhurakohna, S. Partap Singh, S. Sukhminder Singh, assistant secretary S. Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, S. Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, S. Sakatar Singh, S. Simareet Singh, S. Harjinder Singh Kaironwal, S. Sulakhan Singh Bhangali, S. Tejinder Singh Padda, Sri Darbar Sahib manager S. Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, OSD to SGPC president Dr Amrik Singh Latifpur, Dr Sukhbir Singh, S. Satbir Singh Dhami, superintendent Malkit Singh Beharwal, ex-secretary Balwinder Singh Jorhasingha, head preacher Bhai Jaswinder Singh Shahur, Bhai Sarajbeet Singh Dhoti, Bhai Jagdev Singh and others were present.
