Patna: Thousands offer prayers at gurdwara on Prakash Parv

PATNA: Uninterrupted “bhajan-kirtan”, queues of devotees for “mattha tek”, round-the-clock “langar” and “amrit paan” marked Prakash Parv, the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh guru, at the Takhat Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib Gurdwara on Friday.
Large number of devotees from different parts of the country participated in the celebrations. The entire gurdwara premises wore a colourful look with tastefully decorated lights. Visitors were seen clicking selfies in and around the gurdwara.
General secretary of Sri Harmandir Ji Prabandhak Committee, Sardar Indarjit Singh, said the number of devotees could be between 18,000 and 20,000. “They are mainly from Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The Sikh devotees are happy with the reopening of the Kartarpur corridor because Guru Nanak Dev ji had spent 17 years of his life in Kartarpur and even worked as a farmer,” he added
Sardar Daljit Singh, superintendent of the prabandhak committee, said, “Chief Justice of Patna high court Sanjay Karol, IAS officer Harjot Kaur and many other dignitaries reached the gurudwara and offered prayers to the first Sikh guru. Trilok Singh of Delhi, Gurmeet Singh of Dehradun and Indarjit Singh Fakkar participated in bhajan-kirtan.”
Singh said it being the day of Kartik Purnima, hundreds of Hindu devotees who reached the Ganga ghat for holy dip also offered prayers at the gurdwara and joined the langar.
In the evening, the Hukmnama of Guru Granth Sahib was read out to devotees.
Since the Patna DM had directed the prabandhak committee to follow Covid protocols, several gurdwara officials were seen advising people to maintain distance and wear masks.