![Mahant Manjit Singh ji of Dera Nangali Sahib presiding over a grand religious function at Digiana in Jammu on Sunday. —Excelsior/ Rakesh Mahant Manjit Singh ji of Dera Nangali Sahib presiding over a grand religious function at Digiana in Jammu on Sunday. —Excelsior/ Rakesh](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/page339.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: The ‘Parkash Purab’ of the 10th Guru Gobind Singh ji Maharaj was celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour across the region today.
All the Gurdwaras of the city and other major towns were highly decorated by the community members and the respective management committees. The devotees thronged the Sikh religious places in large number since early morning to offer special prayers. ‘Ragi Jathas’ were reciting ‘Shabad Kirtan’ and rhymes (Gurvani) from Guru Garnath Sahib.
A grand function was organised at Sant Mela Singh Ashram at Digiana (Sant Mela Singh College complex), under the guidance and chairmanship of Mahant Manjit Singh Ji of Dera Nangali Sahib (Poonch). Besides, several top Sikh religious, political leaders and social activists, former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla and BJP MLA from Gandhi Nagar, Kavinder Gupta also offered special prayers and addressed the religious gathering, offering their support for the cause of Dera and the welfare of Sikh community. Mahant ji besides both Mr Bhalla and Kavinder Gupta (MLA) greeted the community members on the occasion of Gurpurab. Mahant Manjit Singh ji offered Siropas to Mr Bhalla and Kavinder Gupta.
Sikh United Front leaders and former SGPB chairman S S Wazir and Avtar Singh Khalsa were also present and addressed the gathering. All the Sikh bodies of the State and the local Gurdwara Management Committees and several famous and popular Ragies, Dhadies and preachers Bibi Ashitoshpreet Kour of Jallandhar, Bhai Manpreet Singh Hazoori Ragi of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib Delhi, Dhachjatha Bhai Amrik Singh of Pathankote and Bhai Parvinder Singh Ragi, Bhai Bachan Singh Ragi, Gian Singh Ragi and Bhai Ranjit Singh from UP and Jammu also participated and recited ‘Gurvani Path’.
On this occasion, several Sikh leaders demanded free and fair conduct of Gurdwara elections in the State which have already been delayed. They sought intervention of Divisional Commissioner Jammu in this regard. A langar was also arranged for the devotees.
Another impressive function was held at Gurdwara Singh Sabha Nanak Nagar Jammu where a large number of devotees offered special prayers. The Gurdwara was highly decorated by the management committee and people in large number started visiting since early morning. Famous Ragi Jathas recited Shabad Kirtan there. Gurdawara Tali Sahib at Talab Tillo and Kalgidhar Gurdawaras at Rehari Chungi were also highly decorated. The reports of celebrations have also received from R S Pura, Bishnah, Ramgarh, Kathua, Rajbagh, Udhampur, Batote, Nowshera, Rajouri, Srinagar, Baramulla, Pathar Sahib Leh, Tral in Kashmir and Poonch besides other places.
Reports from Poonch said that Gurpurab was celebrated with great religious fervour and enthusiasm by the community members. A grand function was organised at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, the main religious place of Sikhs in the city. Ragi Jathas from Darbar Sahib, Amritsar and Jammu also attended the programme and recited ‘Shabad Kirtan’. Gurdwara Singh Sabha and Peepalwalla were highly decorated and a large number of devotees offered prayers.