Attari-Wagah Border: For the first time after independence, the 'Nagar Kirtan', which was taken out from Nankana Sahib district of Pakistan's Punjab province, arrived via the Attari-Wagah border to mark the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the Sikhism founder, Guru Nanak Dev. On July 30, nearly 500 Sikh devotees had crossed over Pakistan to bring the 'Nagar Kirtan' to India.
The procession crossed the zero line to enter the Indian side with the holy saroop of Guru Granth Sahib carried by Golden Temple head granthi Giani Jagtar Singh on his head. The additional granthi of the Golden Temple received the holy saroop on the zero line for continuing the procession that will visit 17 Indian states before culminating at Sultanpur Lodhi, the historic town in Kapurthala district, where Guru Nanak spent his 14 years. A rousing welcome was given to the holy saroop from Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of the first Sikh master. A red carpet was rolled out on the way of the nagar kirtan and petals were showered on it with newly released shabad ‘Kal Taran Gur Nanak Aya’ sung by Bollywood playback singer Sukhwinder Singh being played in the spectators’ gallery. Thousands of people gathered to welcome the nagar kirtan led by the Panj Pyaras (five beloved ones of the Guru) and the saroop of the holy book. Langars were organised at different places along the stretch.
Several ministers of the Punjab Government, along with senior officials of the Amritsar district administration, received the Nagar Kirtan at the border. The top leadership of the opposition Shriomani Akali Dal was also present. A large number of devotees from the Indian side stormed the roads when the Nagar Kirtan arrived in a decorated palanquin. An official of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) said a large cavalcade followed the religious procession from Gurdwara Nankana Sahib to Wagah border amid a thick security cover. The SGPC was involved in organising the event with the support from both Indian and Pakistani authorities. “Followers of Guru Nanak from Nankana Sahib, Sindh, Peshawar, Lahore and other parts of Pakistan became part of the procession,” said SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal, who along with Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh came with the nagar kirtan from Pakistan.
