Gurparav, Kartik Purnima celebrated in Steel City with Covid rules in mind

Jamshedpur: Members of the Sikh community of Jamshedpur and other areas of Kolhan celebrated Gurparav on Friday. Keeping Covid protocols in mind, thousands of Sikhs took part in the birth anniversary function of their first guru, Guru Nanak ji at different gurdwaras.
This is the second year, nagar kirtan, which usually traverses through the length and breadth of the Steel City, was not taken out as no confirmation was received from the administration in this connection.
Prabhat pheris were taken out by individual gurdwaras in various parts of the city and other areas. Such processions were confined to nearby areas only.
Head of Telco gurdwara, Gurmeet Singh, said “akhand paath” and “kirtan” were organised on the occasion, so was “langar” (community kitchen). Women from Thursday were actively taking part to ensure smooth running of the langar.
They are following the Covid guidelines formulated by the government while working in the langar, said sources.
Many gurdwaras have tweaked their programmes and functions so that the guidelines are followed. Breaking the 20-year-old tradition of holding langar in the evening, Hume Pipe road gurdwara organised it just after noon.
On the occasion of Kartik Purnima, a large number of people took a dip in Kharkai and Subarnarekha rivers in the city. After taking a holy dip, people distributed clothes, foodgrains and money among the poor at river ghats. Special prayers were offered on this occasion by the devotees.
Meanwhile, medical experts have expressed concern over the rise in Covid cases in the district, especially in city areas. On Thursday, the number of positives was 10 and all the cases were from Jamshedpur, 129 days after 10 cases were reported in the district on July 12.
Sources said 2,666 people were tested on the same day.