Namdhari Khalsa march in Anandpur Sahib

ANANDPUR SAHIB, March 28: An impressive 30-km long procession of Namdhari sect, comprising of 3,000 vehicles, reached here this afternoon. The procession began today morning from Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana, and was received by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal near the newly built gateway on Kiratpur-Anandpur road. The Chief Minister had to wait for at least 25 minutes before he could garland Namdhari sect head Satguru Jagjit Singh, who also participated in the march. Badal later accompanied him to Takht Kesgarh Sahib Gurdwara. At Kesgarh Sahib, head priest Bhai Tarlochan Singh welcomed Satguru Jagjit Singh and presented him a siropa. Also participating in the procession were Namdhari Darbar president H. S. Hanspal and general secretary Jagdish Singh Waryam.

Badal was earlier supposed to join the procession at Kiratpur Sahib, the programme was, however, altered later. The march covered a distance of 125 km, making brief halts at Samrala, Khumano, Morinda, Roopnagar and Kiratpur Sahib. Dressed in all white, the Namdharis distributed sweets to the devotees all through the route. The march was dedicated to the Khalsa tercentenary.

Among the guests present to receive those participating in the procession were Punjab Health Minister Manoranjan Kalia and Master Tara Singh of Anandpur Sahib constituency. Speaking to the mediapersons earlier, Badal said the arrival of Satguru Jagjit Singh as part of the Khalsa tercentenary symoblised the spirit of universal brotherhood that prevailed among the Sikh gurus.

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Replying to a question, Badal said, “We request other prominent sects, too, to pay obeisance at Takht Kesgarh Sahib”.

Though the function remained impressive throughout, poor traffic arrangements led to road blockades on Anandpur-Kiratpur-Nangal section of the state highway.

Interestingly, Satguru Jagjit Singh’s special bus, carrying a refrigerator, a television set and a bed among other things, also formed a part of the procession.