350th anniversary Nagar Kirtan reaches Jalandhar with prayers, langar, security, and community celebrations honoring Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib.
Late on Sunday night, the holy Nagar Kirtan, which had begun in Gurdaspur, Punjab, arrived in Jalandhar, where the authorities and citizens of the city gave it a hearty and customary welcome. Around one in the morning on Saturday night, the Nagar Kirtan arrived in Jalandhar via Kapurthala and Kartarpur, commemorating the 350th anniversary of Hind Di Chadar, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib’s martyrdom. Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, the Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar, was present to formally greet the procession and deliver prayers upon its arrival.
Eleven key roadways in the city were rerouted by the Jalandhar Traffic Police in anticipation of the arrival of the Nagar Kirtan. According to the administration, traffic adjustments were necessary to prevent congestion because of the enormous number of devotees and the lengthy procession route. In order to prevent staff and students from being inconvenienced by the traffic restrictions, the district administration also announced a half-day leave for all schools and institutions.
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A number of dignitaries, including the local MLA Balkar Singh, SSP Jalandhar (Rural) Harvinder Singh Virk, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development) Jasbir Singh, and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Navdeep Kaur, joined the devotees in honoring Guru Sahib when the Nagar Kirtan arrived in Pattar Kalan village in Kartarpur. Devotees spread flowers along the path to greet the procession. To make sure the devotees had no problems, locals had also set up communal meals (langar) and drinking water.
A very spiritual feeling pervaded the entire road when the Nagar Kirtan entered Jalandhar. At different times, one could witness continuous prayers, traditional drums, morning devotional rounds (prabhat pheris), and hymns (kirtan). Religious institutions, social clubs, and gurdwaras of all sizes erect welcome tents. The devotees received food, prasad, fruits, hot tea, and cold water from a number of volunteer organizations.
To make sure the parade went successfully, security measures were also strengthened. Additional police officers were stationed at busy junctions, places of worship, and other locations. CCTV cameras and drones were used for surveillance to keep the event peaceful and orderly.
Religious authorities claimed that the historic Nagar Kirtan, which commemorates Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib’s 350th martyrdom anniversary, offers society a message of sacrifice, unity, and brotherhood. An even greater number of devotees is anticipated to join the procession as it continues through different areas of Jalandhar in the days to come.