Hyderabad: Exhilarating display of Gatka skills, a Sikh martial art form, rendering of Shabad keertans, carrying of Guru Granth Sahibji and Nishan Sahebans were part of the ‘Nagar Keertan’ (Holy Procession) taken out as as part of the Prakash Utsav of 549th birthday celebrations of first Sikh Guru and founder of Sikh religion.
The Prakash Purab (Birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Devji falls on November 23.
As part of the ongoing celebrations, holy procession was taken out from Gurudwara Saheb Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Afzalgunj at 4 pm on Monday and passed through Siddiambar Bazar, Jambagh, Putli Bowli, Central Gurudwara Saheb Gowliguda and reach Gurudwara Singh Sabha in the evening.
The Prabhandak Committee, Presidents, S. Baldev Singh Bagga (GSS) and S. Gurcharan Singh Bagga (GSGSS) and General Secretaries, S Avtar Singh Khanuja (GSS) and S Joginder Singh Mujral (GSGSS) other committee members said that “Nagar Keertan” was marked with carrying of Sri Guru Granth Sahibji, (revered scripture of Sikhs on a beautifully decorated vehicle, followed by “Nishaan Sahebans” (religious flag bearers) and demonstration of Gatka skills by youths. Shabad keertans were rendered by the Keerthani Jathas.
The Sikh youths hailing from Kalgidhar Dashmesh Jatha and other Gatka Jathas displayed their exhilarating “GATKA” skills (Sikh martial art forms) by performing extraordinary exercise with their blunt weapons, Kirpans, swords skills and other skills with breathtaking performance attracting the passerbys all along the procession routes, Kada Prasad, tea and snacks were supplied to the devotees and passers by all along the routes.
S Baldev Singh Bagga (GSS) and S. Gurcharan Singh Bagga (GSGSS) said that another colourful ‘’NAGAR KEERTAN’’ wil be taken out on November 21 at 4 pm from Gurudwara Saheb Secunderabad and proceed via Natraj talkies, Clock Tower, BATA, Kingsway, Monda Market, Alpha Hotel and reach Gurudwara Saheb Secunderabad in the evening.
Thousands devotees from across the state will take part in the holy procession. Guru Granth Sahebji (the Revered Holy Scripture of the Sikhs) will be carried on a beautifully decorated vehicle along with “Nishaan Sahebans” (Religious Flags) all along the procession.
The Holy Procession will be marked by rendering of Shabad Keertans (Holy Hymns) by the Jatha Tera Jatha, Isitri Satsang and Keerthani Jathas of men and women. Besides that ‘Panj Pyaras’ (five beloved ones) in their traditional attire will be the cynosure of atttraction in the procession.
Major attraction of the procession will be the display of ‘GATKA’ a famous Sikh martial art forms and other breathtaking sword exercises all along procession by Gatka Part Akal Gatka (Amritsar), Dashmesh Kalgidhar Jatha and other special Gatka parties will also exhibit their Gatka skills.
As the main Birthday Celebrations of Guru Nanak Devji falls on November 23, 2018 a ‘Vishaal Deewan’ (Mass Congregation) will be held at Exhibition Grounds, Basheerbagh from 10.30 am to 4 pm on November 23, where over 25,000 to 30,000 Sikh devotees and other community faiths will converge at the programme.
The event will be marked by recitations of Gurbani Keertans (Holy Hymns) by the reputed Ragi Jathas (religious preachers) who are being specially invited from various parts of the country to render shabad keertans.
Bhai Tejinder Singh Singhji of Khanna Saheb, Bhai Gurpreet SInghji of Shimla, Bhai Manpreet Singhji (Jagadhri wale) Hazuri Ragi Jathas, Bhai Hari SInghji, Bhai Pritam Singh, Bhai Jagdev Singh and other reputed Ragi Jathas will recite Shabad Keertans and Kathas and throw light on the teachings of Sikh Gurus.
After the culmination of the congregation Guru Ka Langar (free community kitchen) will be served to the devotees.
A Night Keertan Darbar will be organised on November 22 (Thursday) at Gurudwara Saheb Secunderabad from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm. Another Night Keertan Darbar will be organised at Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh sabha, Afzalgunj on November 23 from 9 pm to 2 am in which above famous Ragi Jathas will recite Gurubani keertans. (INN)