Amritsar, September 17: A special Gurmat programme was organised in Sri Amritsar Sahib to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, with members of the Sikh congregation, religious leaders and representatives of different Sikh organisations joining in Ardas, Gurbani Kirtan and Seva.
The programme was held at Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi in Ranjit Avenue on the initiative of Rajya Sabha member Shwait Malik. The event began with the conclusion of the Sri Sukhmani Sahib recitation, followed by a Kirtan Darbar. Saints and Ragi jathas delivered messages centred on service, humility, harmony and the welfare of all.
Devotees and prominent personalities from across Punjab attended the gathering. Religious figures who participated included Giani Sukhdev Singh Ji, Karar Singh, Jathedar Harbans Singh Ranjhpur, Jathedar Harbans Singh Siddhwan, Baba Major Singh, Sant Baba Hardeep Singh, Harminder Singh, Kuldeep Singh and members of various Sikh organisations and sects.
On the occasion, members of the Sant Samaj released Door-to-Door: A Saga of Reverence. According to the organisers, the publication reflects on the rapport between Prime Minister Modi and the Sikh community and the preservation and promotion of Sikh heritage.
Sikh leaders used the occasion to list several measures undertaken during the Modi government that they said addressed issues and aspirations of the Sikh community. These included the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, improved connectivity to major Sikh pilgrimage centres, the announcement of Veer Bal Diwas and large-scale celebrations marking the anniversaries of Sikh Gurus.
The leaders also highlighted the GST exemption on Langar, development of Sultanpur Lodhi as a heritage site, establishment of a Guru Nanak Dev Ji Chair at Birmingham University and arrangements facilitating travel to Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.
They further cited the Citizenship Amendment Act in relation to Sikhs from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the bringing of Swaroops of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan to India and measures relating to Sikh individuals who had earlier faced restrictions on travelling to India.
Satnam Singh Sandhu said that the past 12 years had seen efforts to preserve and propagate Sikh culture and heritage. He pointed to improvements in road, rail and air connectivity to Sikh religious sites and said these had facilitated pilgrimage for the Sikh Sangat.
Sandhu also said the government’s Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas slogan reflected the Sikh principle of Sarbat da Bhala. He cited the Kartarpur Corridor, Veer Bal Diwas, Guru anniversaries, the Langar GST exemption and other initiatives as examples of measures he said had addressed long-standing concerns of the community.
Baba Major Singh and Sant Baba Hardeep Singh Tibbe Wale also spoke at the programme, praising what they described as initiatives for the preservation and promotion of Sikh values, culture and heritage.
