Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday visited the holy Takht Patna Sahib Gurdwara to pay his respects on the occasion of the 350th birth anniversary of the Sikhs tenth master Guru Gobind Singh.
Capt Amarinder went directly from the airport to Gurdwara Sahib, where he was welcomed by Patna Sahib Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, before being escorted into the sanctum sanctorum.
Inside the sanctum sanctorum, he was greeted by Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh, who honoured Capt Amarinder with a ‘siropa’ and a ‘kirpan’. Capt Amarinder partook the ‘karah prasad’ on what he described as a historical occasion. Later, he was also shown the rare ‘shastras’ (weapons) used by Guru Gobind Singh.
Interacting briefly with the media, Capt Amarinder said that he was extremely happy at being at Gurdwara Sahib for the second time. Earlier, he had last visited Patna Sahib in January this year. “It is a rare opportunity since it is the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Sahib...I would not be around to enjoy such a ‘darshan’ on the 400th anniversary of the Dashmesh Pita at his birth place,” he said.
Pointing out that pilgrims from the world over had converged at Patna Sahib on this auspicious occasion, Capt Amarinder said that three train loads of devotees from Punjab would also be arriving Saturday to participate in the anniversary celebrations of the tenth Guru on December 24.
On a question about political conferences held at religious events, Capt Amarinder welcomed the decision of various parties in Punjab to cancel their conferences at the Shaheedi Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib.
“It is important to commemorate the sacrifice of the Sahebzadas and mother of Guru Gobind Singh on this important occasion...There are many other occasions and places to engage in politics,” he said.