Devotion marks Khalsa Panth Foundation Day

The 317th Khalsa Panth Foundation Day celebrations popularly known as ‘VAISAKHI’ Festival was celebrated on a grand scale by the members of the Sikh community of Telangana with gaiety and devotion on Wednesday April 13.

Recitation of Gurubani Keertans by renowned Ragi Jathas (Preachers), taking out of a huge colourful Nagar Keertan (Holy Procession), exhilarating and breathtaking display of ‘GATKA' skills by Sikh Youth, serving of Guru ka Langar (free food) to was done as a part of the celebrations.

The major part of the celebrations was held at Sri Guru Gobind Singhji Play Grounds, Ameerpet, Hyderabad and was organised under the aegis of the Prabhandak Committee Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet. Over 25,000 Sikh devotees and people of other faiths participated in the ‘Vishaal Deewan’ (mass congregation).

The congregation began to flow in at 11 am and continued upto 4.30 pm. Bhai Gurpreet Singhji Khalsa (Shimla), Bhai Veer Singh Hazuri Ragi Jatha, Gurmukh Singhji, Jatha Tera Jatha and other reputed Ragi Jathas rendered Gurbani keertans which stressed on imbibing higher values of life in our day to day to life.

The preachers called upon the devotees to follow the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib which talks of communal harmony brotherhood and peace to the whole humanity. GSA Prabhandak Committee, President S Darshan Singh and other office bearers welcomed the devotees.

The celebrations culminated with the traditional Guru-ka-Langar prepared specially by the devotees was served to all the devotees.

Later, in the evening a mass colourful ‘Nagar Keertan' (holy procession ) was taken out from Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet and passed through Greenlands, Begumpet, Punjagutta and returned back to Gurudwara Saheb, Ameerpet in the evening.

Guru Granth Sahebji was carried on a beautifully decorated vehicle along with five ‘Nishaan saheban’ during the procession. Shabad keertans were rendered by the Keerthani jathas of men, women and youth groups.

“ Panj Pyaras’ (five beloved ones) and sikh youth displayed ‘GATKA’ extraordinary exercises with their swords and sharp weapons and other skills. This was performed by Kagidhar Dashmesh Jatha and Ranjeet Singhji Akhada attracting the passer bys all along the procession route.

Kada Prasad, tea and snacks was supplied to the devotees and passersby all along the route. Sikh youth from Shaheed Baba Deep Singh, from Amroha of Uttar Pradesh performed breathtaking Gatka skills all along the procession.

Baisakhi Keertan Darbar (night congregation) will be held between 8 pm and 1.30 am today, April 14, 2016 at Guru Gobind Singhji Sports Stadium, Ameerpet, Hyderabad in which reputed Ragi Jathas will render Shabad Keertan.