Punjab is gearing up to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, with a series of major events centered around Anandpur Sahib in November. The Punjab government has announced elaborate plans for a week-long celebration from November 19 to 25, transforming Anandpur Sahib into a "White City" to accommodate the large influx of devotees expected to attend.
As part of the preparations, all buildings in Anandpur Sahib will be painted white, and a tent city will be erected to house the expected crowds. The celebrations will feature religious and cultural events, including grand Kirtan Darbars every evening with renowned raagi jathas performing Gurbani Kirtan.
To facilitate the celebrations, the state government has planned four major religious processions (yatras) starting from different parts of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, all converging at Anandpur Sahib. The yatras include:
In addition to the yatras, light-and-sound shows and poetry sessions based on Guru Tegh Bahadur's life and sacrifice will be organized in all 23 districts of Punjab. Special seminars and symposiums focusing on the Guru's life, vision, and martyrdom will be held across educational institutions in the state. An Akhand Path will commence on November 23 and conclude on November 25.
The Punjab tourism department has also proposed the development of a heritage street in Anandpur Sahib, leading to Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five temporal seats of Sikhism. The design will draw inspiration from the Heritage Street in Amritsar, blending aesthetics with historical reverence to create a unified architectural aesthetic reflecting Anandpur Sahib's unique identity.
However, the state government's plans have faced opposition from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex Sikh religious body. The SGPC has accused the government of interfering in Sikh religious affairs and asserted that it holds the exclusive rights to organize such events in collaboration with Sikh organizations and the wider community. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami urged the government to play a supportive role rather than organizing parallel events, which he termed disruptive and disrespectful to Sikh traditions. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has retorted by questioning if the SGPC holds a "copyright" on organizing events for Sikh Gurus.
Despite the controversy, the state government is moving ahead with preparations, expecting over one crore devotees to visit Anandpur Sahib for the occasion. The government maintains that the celebrations aim to honor Guru Tegh Bahadur's supreme sacrifice for religious freedom. Coordination is underway with Haryana, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir to facilitate the events.
The commemoration aims to be a historic tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur's legacy, with Anandpur Sahib gearing up to host one of the largest Sikh religious gatherings in recent years.
