BH-PRAKASHPARV

Celebrations for the 352nd Prakash

Parv (birth anniversary) of Guru Gobind Singh commenced on

Friday at the Takht Harmandir Patna Sahib here, the place of

birth of the tenth Sikh Guru.

The day was also marked by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish

Kumar laying the foundation stone at Rajgir, about 110 kms

from here, of a Gurudwara in the memory of the first Sikh

Guru Nanak Dev whose 550th Prakash Parv is being observed

this year.

Sikh pilgrims from war and wide thronged the Takht

Harmandir Patna Sahib to pay their obeisance to Guru Gobind

Singh besides taking out colourful processions on the

adjoining streets which was marked by singing of hymns,

playing of devotional tunes by musical bands and display of

acrobatics and prowess with the kripan (sword) by Nihang

warrior-monks.

The three-day festivities would conclude on January 13 and

a huge tent city has been erected near the Kangan Ghat along

the river Ganges where 5,000 pilgrims can stay.

Sikh devotees from across the world had visited the city

during the 350th Prakash Parv held a couple of years ago which

was also attended by top dignitaries including Prime Minister

Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, laying the foundation stone of a Gurudwara at

Sheetal Kund in Rajgir, which Guru Nanak Dev is said to have

visited five centuries ago Nitish Kumar announced that his

government has declared a state holiday on November 12 when

Nanak Jayanti will be celebrated.

Expressing his reverence for the founders of the Sikh

sect, Kumar recited many anecdotes from the lives of Guru

Nanak Dev and his disciple Jaitamal, who lived close to the

Ganges in Patna.

He also highlighted the various measures being taken by

his government to develop the spots in Bihar which were

closely related to Sikh history.