City of Temples Bedazzled: DGPC Jammu Hosts Impressive Religious Procession on Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birthday
Jammu, 03-01-2024 : On the occasion of the birthday (Prakash Parv) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, the Sikh community in the winter capital city of Jammu organized a spectacular ‘Nagar-Kirtan.’ This grand religious procession, orchestrated by the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) Jammu, marked the eve of Prakash Parv (Gurpurab) of the 10th Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj. The event saw a significant turnout of Sikh community members, including children from various schools and Ragi Jathas from both J&K and beyond, transforming the City of Temples into a vibrant display of religious fervor.
From the early hours, Sikh community members, along with women and children, and students donned in their school uniforms, congregated at Gurdwara Yadgar Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Lower Gumat, near the ‘Samadhi’ of Bibi Chand Kour (Chand Nagar), Jammu. The DGPC Jammu members, alongside organizers from various Sikh bodies, collaborated to orchestrate this grand religious affair.
A specially decorated chariot, housing the Holy Guru Granth Sahib, served as the centerpiece of the procession. Adorned with flowers, buntings, and equipped with loudspeakers, the chariot carried not only the head priest but also several other Sikh religious personalities.
Following Sikh religious traditions, five warriors of the great Guru (‘Panj Piyaras’), clad in traditional attire and wielding swords, led the chariot. The procession, which commenced from Lower Gumat/Chand Nagar around 10:45 am, included schoolchildren arranged in two lines with band parties leading the way.
Various Sikh religious personalities, including Tadi Jatha of Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji from Ludhiana, Bhai Harmeet Singh Ji Makhanpur, Bhai Nachatter Singh from Gian Missionery College Ludhiana, Bibi Harvinder Kour Parcharak Guru Granth Sahib Study Circle, Bhai Gurmeet Singh, Bhai Balbir Singh from Dasuya, Bhai Joginder Singh from Nangal, and Bibi Manjit Kour from Pahuvind Sahib, actively participated in the procession.
The district administration of Jammu implemented extensive security arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the ‘Shobha Yatra.’ Traffic diversions were put in place, although traffic jams were witnessed at various city points, particularly Canal Road, Bakshi Nagar, Railway Road, Satwari, and some other parts of the old city.
Chanting religious slogans and sermons, the ‘Shobha Yatra’ slowly moved along the traditional route, passing through Dogra Chowk, Main Tawi Bridge, Bikram Chowk, Asia Crossing, Green Belt Gandhinagar, and Gole Market before reaching Nanak Nagar. The procession culminated at Gurdwara Singh Sabha at Nanak Nagar around 5:30 pm.
A highlight of the procession was the display of martial art (Gatka) by Sikh youth, showcasing various feats. In the spirit of secular India, members of other communities established stalls offering drinks, sweet water, tea, fruits, and other refreshments for the Sikh Sangat along the ‘Nagar-Kirtan’ route.
At Gole Market, Gandhinagar, several DGPC Jammu members, including President Ajit Singh Tohra, Vice President Balwinder Singh, and General Secretary Surjit Singh, voiced the Sikh community’s demand for declaring a holiday on January 5 in connection with the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj. They disclosed that a representation submitted to the Chief Secretary of JKUT on December 12, urging the declaration of a holiday, had yet to receive a response from the UT Administration. Seeking intervention from Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, they emphasized the significance of recognizing the occasion.
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