IEP Chandigarh, February 13
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today asked the officers to ensure foolproof arrangements for the upcoming festival of Hola Mohalla at Sri Anandpur Sahib. Chairing a high level meeting here today to finalise arrangements for the mega event, the Chief Minister said that the festival of Hola Mohall is a symbol of the martial spirit of the Punjabis in general and the Sikh community in particular. He said that huge participation of the people from different walks of life is witnessed on the holy land of Sri Anandpur Sahib during the festival. Bhagwant Mann said that elaborate arrangements should be made to facilitate lakhs of devotees from across the state on this sacred land. The Chief Minister said that every year pilgrims celebrate this traditional spirit of these festivals with the colors of unity, tolerance, brotherhood and compassion. He said that elaborate arrangements for traffic diversion, parking of vehicles, security arrangements, boarding, lodging and other facilities should be made for the pilgrims. Bhagwant Mann said that meticulous planning and execution of everything should be ensured so that pilgrims do not face any inconvenience. The Chief Minister said that the holy city of Sri Anandpur Sahib has the privilege of having been founded by the Ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in 1665, who sacrificed his life to uphold human dignity and human rights. He further said that this revered place was also the birthplace of Khalsa as in the year 1699 the tenth master of Sikhs Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji laid the foundation of Khalsa Panth at this sacred land on the historic day of Baisakhi. Bhagwant Mann said that with all its humility and enthusiasm the state government is duty bound to ensure world class and flawless arrangements for the devotees visiting the holy city during Hola Mohalla. He called upon the people to celebrate this mega event collectively with great enthusiasm thereby rising above the parochial considerations of caste, color, creed and religion in order to demonstrate the ethos of secularism and religious tolerance.
