Sikh Fateh March enters Punjab

The Fateh March,which started last month from Nanded in Maharashtra,has till now travelled 2,500 kilometres,covering various states.

The march will culminate at Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib on Thursday. The state government is celebrating the tercentenary of Sirhind Fateh Diwas in a big way at Chappar Chiri in Fatehgarh Sahib on May 14.

The day is celebrated to mark the victory of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in ousting the Mughals from Sirhind. Banda Bahadur,a trusted lieutenant of Guru Gobind Singh,had started his mission from Nanded to conquer Sirhind,in order to avenge the martyrdom of two Sahibzadas.

Speaking on the occasion,Badal said: “We are lucky to be able to celebrate the tercentenary of Sirhind Fateh Diwas. The first centenary could not be celebrated due to the Mughal rule and the second due to British rule in the country.”

In his address,Sukhbir Badal appealed to the people to motivate their children to participate in such historic occasions so that they could be an inseparable part of the rich legacy of the state.

The Badals,along with Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh,Damdami Taksal and Sant Samaj head Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma,Darbar Sahib Head Granthi Giani Jaswinder Singh and other religious and political leaders paid obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib being carried in a palanquin decorated with flowers.

People from different walks of life assembled here in large numbers to offer prayers and have a glimpse of the rare weapons brought from Sach Khand Sri Hazoor Sahib in Nanded.

A cavalcade of four and two-wheelers moved ahead in tandem with the beating of the nagada (drum),while devotees lined up along both sides of the road raising slogans in favour of the Khalsa Panth. Free food was distributed all along the route.

Prominent among others present on the occasion were Punjab Backward Classes Commission Chairman and former SGPC president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar,Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra,Cabinet ministers Janmeja Singh Sekhon and Ajit Singh Kohar,Advisor to CM Daljeet Singh Cheema,Media Advisor to CM Harcharan Bains and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana.