Nagpur: The streets of the city came alive on Friday with a colourful procession taken out by Sikhs who had come all the way from Punjab to take part in a grand “nagar kirtan” to create awareness among people about the 4th centenary of the Guru Granth Saheb.
The atmosphere was surcharged with religious fervour as the Guru Granth Ki Sawari with the Panch nishaanchi and the symbolic panch pyare representing the five disciples of the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh at its head, moved forward with the people singing and chanting hymns.
The roads became resonant with the cries of Jo bole so nihal Sat Siri Akal . The procession moved ahead with the sound of trumpets, drums and fire-crackers. Thousands of people joined the procession which comprised of men, women and children of various age-groups.
A large number of women had also come to participate and they were happy to be a part of a celebration.
A large number of Sikh devotees including women and children assembled at Buddhaji Nagar Gurudwara in North Nagpur in the morning. Members from various Sikh organisations, children of various schools and religious preachers also attended this grand Shobha Yatra.
Since early morning today hundreds of devotees started arriving at the Gurudwara. A highly decorated chariot with flowers and other impressive material was framed by the experts on which Holy Guru Granth Sahib was placed. The head Granthi and other religious personalities were mounting on the chariot and delivering holy sermons and religious slogans through the loud speakers fitted on the chariot and other vehicles following it. At around 11 am, the Nagar Kirtan started its journey for historic Gurdwara at Ramdaspeth. Shobhayatra started from Buddhaji Nagar Gurudwara in North Nagpur. It reached Kamptee and from there to Teka, Buddha nagar Gurudwara, Kalgidhar Sahib, Ashok nagar Gurunanak Darbar where devotees showered flowers on the yatra.
The decorated chariot was leading the religious procession of devotees, who were singing devotional songs and raising religious slogans. At Ashok Nagar, it was virtually appearing as a sea of humanity’, because thousands of people were following this grand Shobha Yatra and the tail end was no where visible. Panch Pyare’ clad in traditional dress, carrying swords were leading the Shobha Yatra.
Many Sikh youth, were seen displaying their skills of martial art with swords, spear and other weapons during Shobha Yatra. The youth and specially the children, were seen full of enthusiasm and zest. Several organisations from different localities of the city had put up their welcome banners, though they all were the part of same procession. Some were playing Dholak’ and singing religious songs in the praise of the great Guru.
On the way, several organisations from the other communities had set up stalls of eatables and Sharbat.
The district administration had made elaborate security arrangements in view of the Shobha Yatra. Several senior officers were moving with the Nagar Kirtan. The traffic had been diverted to other routes.
