Nagar Kirtan for 9th Guru’s 350th martyrdom anniv to begin from Assam tomorrow: SGPC

To mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami announced that a grand Nagar Kirtan would commence from the sacred site associated with the ninth Guru — Gurdwara Dhobri Sahib in Assam — on August 21.

Addressing the media, Dhami said the Nagar Kirtan on the theme “Dharam Het Saaka Jini Keeya” (who made supreme sacrifice for faith) would travel through 20 states before concluding at Anandpur Sahib on November 23. He said the 350th martyrdom anniversary was being observed by the SGPC, with support from the Sikh Sangat, in accordance with Khalsa traditions.

In addition to major Gurmat programmes in prominent cities across the country, special Nagar Kirtans will be held.

The first Nagar Kirtan will set off from Gurdwara Dhobri Sahib in Assam on August 21. Sharing details of the first 10 days, Dhami said the Nagar Kirtan would travel from Dhobri Sahib to Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Siliguri, on August 21; Siliguri to Malda on August 22; and Malda to Kolkata on August 23. In Kolkata, the procession will be held for two days in various areas before reaching Gurdwara Guru Nanak, Asansol (West Bengal) on August 25. It will then proceed to Jamshedpur (Tata Nagar) on August 26, Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Ranchi (Jharkhand) on August 27, and Takht Sri Harmandar Ji Patna Sahib (Bihar) on August 28. From there, it will travel to Sasaram on August 29, Benares (Uttar Pradesh) on August 30, and depart for Benares for the next stage on August 31.

Similarly, a second Nagar Kirtan will be organised from Gurdwara Sri Mattan Sahib, Jammu and Kashmir, on October 5, reaching Sri Anandpur Sahib after passing through various locations. The third Nagar Kirtan will commence from Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Delhi, on November 25 and conclude at Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 29.

Regarding the proposal by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Harmeet Singh Kalka to hold martyrdom centenary events in Delhi under SGPC leadership, Dhami questioned why Kalka’s proposal was limited to a letter while he was independently announcing programmes and holding meetings with different organisations.

Amritsar