Rush of devotees to celebrate Baisakhi in Punjab, Haryana
Darpan News Desk IANS, 14 Apr, 2022 01:36 PM
Chandigarh, April 14 (IANS) As the Covid-19 wave has receded, thousands of devotees rushed to gurdwaras across Punjab and Haryana on Thursday to celebrate Baisakhi, one of biggest festivals that marks the foundation day of the 'Khalsa Panth' (Sikh order) by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.
Also it marks the start of harvest season.
The Golden Temple in Amritsar, one of Sikhism's holiest shrines, saw a heavy rush to offer prayers.
As per gurdwara officials, nearly two lakh devotees visit the Golden Temple on the occasion of Baisakhi.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, has deployed task force staff to manage crowds.
Barricades have been put up at all roads leading to the Golden Temple to prevent overcrowding, a police official told IANS.
A sea of devotees was also witnessed at the Takht Kesgarh Sahib in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib, where the Khalsa Panth was founded in 1699.
"It is after a gap of two years we came to offer prayers and partake a 'langar' in a gurdwara," a devotee said in Anandpur Sahib.
A jatha of 1,949 Sikh pilgrims this week left for Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib in Pakistan to participate in the religious congregation to be held to mark Khalsa Sajna Diwas (Baisakhi).
Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann extended greetings on Baisakhi and on Sajna Diwas of Khalsa Panth.
Baisakhi has a special significance for the people of Punjab, particularly for the Sikh community as the Khalsa Panth was born on this day, Purohit said.
"Baisakhi also marks the commencement of the harvesting season, when farmers reap the fruit of their hard work," he added.
The Enforcement Directorate has questioned former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi at its Jalandhar office in connection with the illegal sand mining case involving Channi's nephew, Bhupinder Singh Honey, and others.
Extending his best wishes to all Indians living in the country as well as abroad, he said: "These festivals celebrated all across the country reflect our diversity and also emphasise our unity. The festivals are occasions of enjoyment for the farmer community who work tirelessly for the betterment and progress of the nation."
The deceased was identified as Himanshu while his wife Priya (30) and son Krishna (3) are presently admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. The other injured were Harsh Makkar (40), his wife Seema (35), one Ice Cream vendor Ranjeet Sarkar (32) and one pedestrian Varun Kashyap (35).
On the 103rd anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh, the Congress paid tributes to the martyrs and attacked the current government over alleged "authoritarian mentality" and said in new India it's same "tyranny".
A spokesperson for the Chief Minister's Office said the Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies, briefed the Cabinet about the status of the ongoing procurement. It was informed that 14.9 lakh metric tons of wheat had arrived in the mandis out of which more than 12 lakh metric tons had already been purchased.
The deceased, Sarabjit Singh Brar, was a resident of Laburnum Apartments at DLF Phase 1 in Gurugram. At the time of the incident that occured on Wednesday morning, Brar was at his flat along with his wife.
.jpg "President greets people on Vaisakhi, regional new years")
