Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 2: An impressive `Nagar- Kirtan’ was taken out by the members of Sikh community on the eve of Gurpurab in the winter capital city here today.
As declared by the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) Jammu and members of State Gurdwara Parbandhak Board, a large number of Sikh devotees including women and children assembled at Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Chand Nagar (Lower Gumat) here in the morning. Members from various Sikh organizations, children of various schools and religious preachers also attended this grand Shobha Yatra, taken out in Jammu city in connection with the 349th Parkash Utsav of 10th Guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji Maharaj which is being celebrated on January 5 across the State.
Since early morning today hundreds of devotees started arriving at Chand Nagar Gurdwara. It was highly decorated by the Management Committee members. A highly decorated Rath with flowers and other impressive material was framed by the experts on which Holy Guru Granth Sahib was placed. The Head Granthi and other religious personalities were mounting on the Rath and delivering holy sermons and religious slogans through the loud speakers fitted on the Rath and other vehicles following it. At around 11 am, the Nagar Kirtan started its journey for historic Gurdwara at Nanak Nagar.
The decorated ‘Baggi’ (chariot) was leading the religious procession of devotees, who were singing devotional songs and raising religious slogans. At Dogra Chowk, it was virtually appearing as a `sea of humanity’, because thousands of people were following this grand Shobha Yatra and the tail end was no where visible. `Panj Piyare’ clad in traditional dress, carrying swords were leading the Shobha Yatra. Many Sikh youth, were seen displaying their skills of martial art with swords, spear and other weapons during Shobha Yatra. The youth and specially the children, were seen full of enthusiasm and zest. Several organizations from different localities of the city with their banners were moving in their own group, though they all were the part of same procession. Some were playing `Dholak’ and singing religious songs in the praise of the great Guru.
After crossing Dogra Chowk, Tawi bridge, Bikram Chowk the Shobha Yatra reached at Asia Crossing and then moved towards Gandhi Nagar. On the way, several organisations from the other communities had set up stalls of eatables and Sharbat/ drinks. They greeted the devotees and also joined them on the occasion of Gurpurab celebrations.
The Nagar-Kirtan after passing through Green Belt, Gandhi Nagar Gurdawara Fateh Singh and Gole Market then finally culminated at Nanak Nagar Gurdawara at around 5 pm.
The District Administration had made elaborated security arrangements in view of the Shobha Yatra. Several senior officers were moving with the Nagar Kirtan. The traffic had been diverted to other routes including 4th Tawi bridge and Gujjar Nagar bridge besides Nagrota Bye Pass during the passage of Nagar- Kirtan in the city.
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