Chandigarh, October 6;
Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains today informed that comprehensive arrangements are being made in full swing to commemorate the 350th Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. As part of the preparations, S. Bains led team of cabinet ministers, including Harbhajan Singh ETO and Tarunpreet Singh Sond, will start a thorough inspection (from November 8) of the routes of four major Nagar Kirtans’ scheduled procession across the state.
“We will thoroughly review all arrangements, including development projects, roadworks and logistical arrangements. We’ll also engage with Deputy Commissioners, local MLAs and Sant Mahapurush to ensure a smooth and successful coordination for this historic occasion”, S. Harjot Singh Bains said.
The Education Minister, along with Advisor to the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Mr. Deepak Bali, was addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan on Monday evening, following the religious panel’s meeting with Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said that Baba Balbir Singh ji 96 Crori Wale, Baba Kashmir Singh ji Bhuri Wale, Baba Satnam Singh ji Qila Anandgarh Sahib Wale, Baba Avtar Singh ji Tibbi Sahib Ropar Wale, Baba Tirath Singh ji Tapp Asthan Bhai Jaita ji & Baba Jiwan Singh, Baba Sukhwinder Singh ji Ratwara Sahib Wale, MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, SGPC members Bhai Gurpreet Singh Randhawe Wale, S. Paramjit Singh Rampur Wale, Sant Sewa Singh Rampur Kheri wale, Baba Gurdev Singh Shaheedi Bagh Sri Anadpur Sahib and other prominent religious figures also attended today’s meeting.
S. Bains informed that the Punjab Government will observe the 350th martyrdom day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji at grand level, honouring his supreme sacrifice as the ‘Hind Di Chadar’. The events will showcase the Guru’s enduring legacy of selflessness, inclusivity and human rights advocacy.
He informed that the events will begin with Ardaas at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi on October 25, 2025, followed by a Kirtan Darbar at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib the same evening. Subsequently, to all the colleges and universities (including private and aided) across Punjab will organise seminars and programs to highlight the life, teachings and martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, as well as the sacrifices of devoted disciples Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji, Bhai Dayala Ji and Bhai Jaita Ji.
S. Harjot Singh Bains said that Light and Sound Shows will be hosted in all the 23 districts across the state from November 1 to 18, highlighting 9th Guru Sahib’s life and his devoted disciples Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji and Bhai Dayala Ji. Kirtan Darbars will be held at 130 ‘Charan Chhoeh’ holy sites closely associated with the Guru Sahib, with major events planned in key cities; Amritsar (birthplace of the Guru Sahib), Baba Bakala (where Guru ji meditated over 26 years), Sri Anandpur Sahib (city he founded) and Patiala, where the Guru Sahib spent considerable time. A special drive will be undertaken to beautify these cities, he added.
The Education Minister further informed that the four Nagar Kirtans to be commenced from different parts of the country and will converge at Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 22 evening. One Nagar Kirtan will start from Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) on November 19 from Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi, passing through Jammu, Pathankot and Hoshiarpur, and it will be attended by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and Sant Mahapurush, who are part of the state’s religious panel. Another Nagar Kirtan will begin from Gurdaspur, traversing Batala, Baba Bakala, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Balachour and Nurpur Bedi. The third Nagar Kirtan will start from Faridkot in Malwa, covering Ferozepur, Moga, Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib, while the fourth will commence from Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, passing through Bathinda, Sangrur, Patiala and Mohali. All four processions will culminate at Sri Anandpur Sahib on the evening of November 22, he added.
S. Bains said that the primary celebrations will shift to Sri Anandpur Sahib from November 23 to 25, expecting over 1 crore Sangat from across the globe. A Tent City “Chakk Nanki” will be set up at Sri Anandpur Sahib to accommodate over 11,000 devotees daily from November 19 to 30. The events will commence on November 23 with the Akand Path Sahib at 10am, followed by Sarb Dharam Sammelan, an exhibition at Virasat-e-Khalsa, a first ever drone show depicting Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib’s life and supreme sacrifice at 5pm, and a Kirtan Darbar at 6pm. The day will culminate with “Shahaadat di Lo” that will be illuminated the holy city with the lighting of torches (Mashals). On November 24, Nagar Kirtan ‘Sis Bhet’ will start from Sri Kiratpur Sahib towards Sri Anandpur Sahib. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha will hold a special session at Bhai Jaita Ji Memorial in Sri Anandpur Sahib for the first time in the history to mark the historic occasion. On November 25, the Bhog of Akhand Path Sahib will be followed by recitals of hymns of 9th Guru Sahib by renowned Kirtanyeas. The events will also feature statewide blood donation camps, a mega plantation drive of 3.50 lakh saplings by Forest Dept, and an organ donation pledge event by the Health department.
S. Harjot Singh Bains emphasised that the sacred commemorations of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji’s martyrdom will inspire devotees to uphold the divine values of secularism, compassion and humanism. The Guru’s supreme sacrifice for protecting the right to freedom of worship embodies the eternal message of standing steadfast in faith and respecting the sacred beliefs of all.
