The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A momentous occasion for Sikhs

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Monday, Jul 21, 2008
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A momentous occasion for Sikhs

Staff Reporter

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Young warriors: Sikh children who were part of the Guru Manyo Jagriti Yatra, in Bangalore on Sunday.

Bangalore: A religious journey that began from Nanded in Maharashtra on November 15, 2007 passed through various areas in Bangalore on Sunday.

Over 10,000 people were part of the procession.

Guru Manyo Jagriti Yatra, the Sikh celebration of 300 years of “Gurta Gaddi” or the consecration of the holy book Guru Granth Sahib, arrived here from Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib in Nanded, one of the five takhats or thrones of religious authority.

The programmes have been organised by the Sri Guru Singh Sabha and the Sikh Sangat.

“The journey will end in Nanded. It was the spot where Guru Gobind Singh passed on the responsibility and title of the next guru to the holy book. The yatra will conclude there in August,” said Sharan Singh Sodhi, section in-charge of the celebrations.

The yatra in Bangalore began from the Gurdwara at Jalahalli (West) at 8.30 a.m. and arrived at the Ulsoor Gurdwara at 4 p.m. followed by a Kirtan Durbar or the singing of hymns.

The Guru Manyo Jagriti Yatra, which has covered Punjab and will now head to other cities in the south such as Hyderabad and Chennai, was an occasion of joy for the Sikhs.

“People of other faiths have also gathered here,” said Mr. Sodhi. In a span of one hour, two helicopters flew above the Ulsoor Gurdwara and showered flower petals over the rejoicing crowd.

Food and sherbet were provided to people alike. CDs with videos of the yatra in Jamshedpur and Navi Mumbai were also sold.

‘Great day’

“This is a great day for us,” said Rajan Singh Bal, one of the 30 organisers of the yatra. “In Nanded, over 30,000 people joined us and here the response has been overwhelming,” he added.

Traffic was regulated around Ulsoor Lake to facilitate the procession.

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