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.
After paying floral tributes to the former Prime Minister at Central Hall of Parliament, Defence Minister Singh tweeted, "Paid tributes to former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi ji on his birth anniversary at Parliament House today."
Microsoft and MAQ Software will set up their units in Noida whereas PepsiCo has started construction of its factory in Mathura, said an Industrial Department official.
Stressing that Rajiv Gandhi was a close friend, Amarinder Singh recalled that he always used ask when the day will come when people will have their own houses to live and India would be free from poverty. He, therefore, thought it apt to launch this scheme on the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, said the Chief Minister, adding that the Congress had fighting for the people for the last 130 years.
Sisodia, who is also the nodal minister for Covid management in the national capital, stated that no one can deny that Delhi grappled with an oxygen shortage during the peak of the second wave of the Covid pandemic (April-May) and several people died due to oxygen shortage.
Speaking at the meeting, Sonia Gandhi said, "Monsoon session of Parliament was a complete washout entirely due to the government's obstinate and arrogant unwillingness to discuss and debate urgent issues of public importance."
The Chief Secretary said the 300-bed state of the art hospital will act as a tertiary care centre for the entire northern region, comprising Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
