Chandigarh, Sep 22 (PTI) The Punjab government will take out four ‘Shobha Yatras’ to spread the message of Guru Ravidas as part of the statewide commemorations to mark the 650th ‘Parkash Purab’ of the poet-saint, state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Tuesday.
Following the roadmap initiated last year, events celebrating the philosophy and teachings of Guru Ravidas are being organised across cities and rural areas of Punjab to mark his 650th birth anniversary, Cheema said.
“These initiatives include drone shows, academic seminars in colleges and universities, thematic essay competitions in schools, discussions on Guru Sahib’s sacred verses, and ‘Kirtan Darbars’ to foster deep community engagement with his teachings,” he told reporters here.
The 650th birth anniversary (Parkash Purab) of Guru Ravidas falls on February 20, 2027.
Cheema said the first Shobha Yatra will commence from Varanasi, the birthplace of Guru Ravidas, on November 30 and travel through Kanpur, Delhi, Ambala, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar and Rupnagar before culminating at Shri Khuralgarh Sahib in Hoshiarpur district on December 3.
The second is scheduled to begin from Bathinda on December 1. It will traverse through Barnala, Mansa, Lehragaga, Sangrur, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Morinda and Rupnagar before arriving at Shri Khuralgarh Sahib on December 3, said Cheema, who was flanked by Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond and advisor to the department, Deepak Bali.
The third Shobha Yatra will be flagged off from Faridkot on December 2. It will pass through Ferozepur, Moga, Ludhiana, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Garhshankar before culminating at Shri Khuralgarh Sahib on December 3, the minister said.
Originating from Jammu, the fourth Shobha Yatra will pass through Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur before joining the other Yatras at Shri Khuralgarh Sahib on December 3, he added.
The main spiritual congregation will commence at Shri Khuralgarh Sahib on December 4.
“The programme will conclude on December 6 with a ‘Bhog’ ceremony of Shri Akhand Path Sahib,” Cheema said.
(PTI News)
