Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh launches celebrations for the 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev 

With an appeal to all to not indulge in politics and one-upmanship but to commemorate the auspicious event in the spirit of universal harmony, as propagated by the Great Guru, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh launched a week-long celebration of the 550th Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji at Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district of Punjab on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister launched the celebrations by performing the Sewa of Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib before the start of Sehaj Path, jointly organised by the Punjab Government, Sikh Religious organisations and Sant Samaj at Sri Guru Nanak Darbar in Sultanpur Lodhi. The chief minister called upon the people to follow the Guru’s teachings of tolerance and harmony to counter the challenges of growing religious intolerance faced by the country.

He also told the Sikh Sangat gathered there from across the state that they all had the privilege of celebrating the grand occasion in their lifetimes besides inviting all others to participate in the main function on November 12, and also to visit and have darshan at Kartarpur, the dream of which was set to be realised on November 9 when the Prime Minister opens the Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak.

On the occasion, the CM also announced a new administrative complex and a ₹150 Crores ring road around the heritage city of Sultanpur Lodhi to enhance its connectivity with other cities. The iconic Quila Sarai, at present doubling up as the Tehsil administrative office, would be preserved by the state government as a heritage building, he said.

Accompanied by his Cabinet colleague Charanjit Singh Channi, Captain Amarinder Singh released four books focusing on Guru Nanak Dev. He also inaugurated two exhibitions containing relics, manuscripts and rare books associated with Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s life.

Fully conscious of its duties to observe the historic 550th Prakash Purab in a befitting manner, the state government had undertaken many infrastructure developments works in both Sultanpur Lodhi and Dera Baba Nanak to make these kasbas into modern heritage towns, he claimed.

Upgradation and widening of roads, besides construction of new bridges and improvement of hospitals, were undertaken at a cost of ₹235 crores, the Chief Minister informed, adding that a ₹100 Crores project to develop all 70-odd Pahli Patshahi de Charan Chhoe Prapt Pind as model villages with proper amenities has also been initiated.

The CM announced that cleaning and lining of the right bank of the Holy Bein have been completed in the Sultanpur Lodhi section at a cost of ₹11 crores, in partnership with Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal. The government had also secured approval from the Centre for its proposal to develop Sultanpur Lodhi as a Heritage Town for ₹271 crores on 50:50 sharing basis and to set up a Centre for Inter-Faith Studies at GNDU Amritsar at a cost of ₹ 175 crores. It had also proposed the establishment of a Pind Babe Nanak Da (Museum in around 75-80 acres of land) at a cost of ₹300 crores, he added.

Widening of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg from Sultanpur Lodhi to Dera Baba Nanak Road via Beas and Raiyya had been undertaken at a cost of ₹102 Crores, he said while highlighting the arrangements made for pilgrims.

He added that a tented city spread across 277 acres to accommodate 35,000 people has been erected at a cost of ₹53 Crores, with 2200 temporary toilets and 10 water vending machines, besides 18 parking sites spread over 542 acres to facilitate the devotees. Special trains, including Prakash Purab Express from Delhi to Sultanpur Lodhi, has also been made operational. Punjab has also made efficient arrangements for the running of special buses and mini-buses as well as e-rickshaws, free of cost for the devotees in Sultanpur Lodhi, said the Chief Minister.

To mark the historic occasion, the state government has convened a Special Vidhan Sabha Session on Wednesday, to be addressed by Vice President of India M Venkiah Naidu and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. A Conference of scholars on Peace and Amity would also be organised at Chandigarh on November 7 and 8 besides ‘Ik Noor Inter-Faith Conclave’ on November 9 at Amritsar, to be attended by many distinguished personalities including His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Dera Baba Nanak Utsav will attract devotees from around the world from November 8 to 11, while eminent Punjabis will be honoured at Punjab Technical University (PTU) Kapurthala on November 10, he added.

The CM was joined by several of his cabinet and party colleagues, besides members of the Sant Samaj and religious bodies.