Sikhs celebrate “Vaisakhi” festival

Hyderabad, April 13 : Recitation of Gurubani Keertans by renowned Ragi Jathas (Preachers), taking out of a huge colourful Nagar Keertan (Holy Procession), exhilarating and breathtaking display of “Gatka” skills by Sikh Youths, serving of Guru ka Langar (free food) to all marked the 314th “Khalsa Panth Foundation Day” celebrations popularly known as “Vaisakhi” festival.

The festival was celebrated on a grand scale by the members of the Sikh community of Andhra Pradesh with gaiety and devotion on Saturday.

The major attraction of the celebrations was held at Sri Guru Gobind Singhji Play Grounds at Ameerpet organised under the aegis of the Prabhandak Committee Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet, where over 25,000 Sikh devotees and other community faiths participated in the “Vishaal Deewan”.

The congregation began at 11 am and continued upto 4.30 pm and was marked by the recitations of Holy Guurbani keertans and Kathas (holy hymns) by the renowned Ragi Jathas (Religious preachers) who were specially invited from various parts of the country for the important occasion.

Bhai Gagandeep Singhji Khalsa (Ganganagar), Bhai Jasbeer Singiji (Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh), Giani Sukhdev Singhji (Amristar), Bhai Surinder Singhji (Hazuri Ragi Jatha), Gurumukh Singhji (Jatha Tera Jatha) and other reputed Ragi Jathas rendered Gurbani keertans which stressed on imbibing the higher values of life in our day to day to living.

The preachers called upon the devotees to follow the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib ji which stands for national integration, communal harmony brotherhood and peace to the whole humanity.

Prabhandak Committee, President S Amarjeet Singh, General Secretary S Surender Singh, Vice President S Sulakshan Singh and Joint Secretary, S Bhagender Singh welcomed the devotees.

After the culmination of the congregation, the traditional Guru-ka-Langar (free community kitchen) prepared specially by the devotees was served to all the devotees.

Later, in the evening a mass colourful “Nagar Keertan”, the Holy Procession, was taken out from Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet and passed through the main corridors Greenlands, Begumpet, Punjagutta and returned back to Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet in the evening.

Guru Granth Sahebji was carried on a beautifully decorated vehicle along with five ” Nishaan saheban ” during the procession. Shabad keertans were rendered by the Keerthani jathas of men, women and youth groups.

“Panj Pyaras” (Five Beloved Ones) and Sikh youths displayed “Gatka” extraordinary exercises with their swords and sharp weapons and other skills with breathtaking performance was performed by Kagidhar Dashmesh Jatha and Ranjeet Singhji Akhada attracting the passer bys all along the procession route.Kada Prasad, tea and snacks were supplied to the devotees and passersby all along the routes.

The Baisakhi Keertan Darbar (Night Congregation) will be held between 8 pm and 1.30 am on April 14th at Guru Gobind Singhji Sports Stadium at Ameerpet in which reputed Ragi Jathas will render Shabad Keertan. INN