Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
Jagtar Singh
CHANDIGARH, Oct 16: Bollywood's star crooner Lata Mangeshkar and renowned director Yash Chopra would participate in the main function to celebrate 300th anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib on April 13 next.
She would recite shabads set to the tune by music director Uttam Singh. Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh today disclosed Mangeshkar had consented to the Punjab government. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had met her earlier for the purpose.
Senior Akali Dal leader and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gurcharan Singh Tohra, during his recent visit to Mumbai, had detailed talks with Mangeshkar, Chopra and Uttam Singh about the tercentenary celebrations.
As birth of Khalsa is associated with the 10th Guru, Mangeshkar would sing shabads written by Guru Gobind Singh. The pace for the celebrations would be set with foundation stone ceremony of Nishan-e-Khalsa on November 22 next by the Panj Piaras.
The foundation stone laying programme which would be a megaevent would be finalised by the Anandpur Sahib Foundation headed by Badal at its general body meeting here on October 25. The tentative programme states that the Panj Piaras would be from Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib.
The multi-crore Nishan-e-Khalsa and the Khalsa heritage complex have been approved, awaiting final decision by the general house of the foundation.
Technical aspects of Nishan-e-Khalsa are being studied as Anandpur Sahib is in seismic zone. The foundation of the high structure would have to go deep. The soil is sandy. Another problem is the high wind velocity in the area as Anandpur Sahib is in the wind tunnel. This aspect would have to be taken into account. The total cost of the projects associated with the tercentenary is likely to be about Rs 600 crore.
The state government is making necessary arrangements to facilitate pilgrims from all over the world globe for the historic event. Rough estimates show that about 25 lakh people are expected to visit Anandpur Sahib. Normally,the 3-day Hola Mohalla fete at Anandpur Sahib attracts about ten lakh people annually.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------