Preparations underway for 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji; grand nagar kirtan on Aug 31

PTC Web Desk: The management committee of Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib, led by president Jagjot Singh Sohi, met Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami to discuss arrangements for the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

During the discussions, Jagjot Singh Sohi invited Advocate Dhami to participate in a grand nagar kirtan (religious procession) scheduled to begin from Takht Sri Patna Sahib on August 31. The procession will journey through Jharkhand, Bengal, Kolkata, Asansol, Odisha, Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Haryana before concluding at Sri Anandpur Sahib in Punjab.

Advocate Dhami assured the visiting delegation that the SGPC would extend full support for the procession, emphasising that the anniversary would be marked with great pride and reverence by the Sikh community.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney raised an urgent call for transformative infrastructure to ease traffic congestion around the Golden Temple. Addressing Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Manohar Lal Khattar, Sahney noted that the shrine, which attracts over 1.5 lakh devotees daily, requires enhanced facilities to ensure visitor safety and comfort.

He proposed projects such as a Mass Rapid Transport System connecting GT Road to the Golden Temple, an underground tunnel for vehicles, and multi-level parking near key city entry points to help reduce congestion. Sahney also demanded the inclusion of Mohali and Patiala in Punjab’s Smart City Mission to strengthen urban infrastructure.

The meeting also saw participation from Sikh leaders, including Jasbir Singh Dham (Mumbai), Inderjit Singh, and senior vice-president Gurwinder Singh.