Anandpur Sahib, November 21 (NationPress) - The religiously revered Anandpur Sahib, established by the ninth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Tegh Bahadur, in 1665 and initially called Chak Nanaki in honor of his mother, Mata Nanaki, is being beautifully adorned to celebrate the 350th martyrdom day of this courageous leader from November 23 to 25.

Recognized as one of the most sacred places in Sikhism, Anandpur Sahib holds immense historical, cultural, and religious importance, significantly contributing to the establishment of Sikh identity and tradition.

The city, nestled at the base of the Shivalik range, where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, spent considerable time, has been painted white to honor the unique warrior Hind di Chadar, who inspired the fight against injustice and oppression.

Located in the Ropar district, Anandpur Sahib is well-connected by both road and rail. The state government is making extensive preparations to accommodate nearly 10 million visitors for the commemorative events.

Key activities from November 23 to 25 include nagar kirtans (religious processions), heritage walks, a 'sarv dharm sammelan' (interfaith assembly), an exhibition on Guru Tegh Bahadur's life at the Virasat-e-Khalsa memorial, and a special one-day assembly session at the Bhai Jaita-ji memorial. Additional traditional martial arts events like Gatka, tent pegging, 'dhal-talwar' duels, and 'shastra darshan' will also take place.

This year marks the first time the assembly session will be held outside the Vidhan Sabha complex in Chandigarh.

In addition to Anandpur Sahib, which is home to one of the five Takhts in Sikhism, the sites of Guru Tegh Bahadur's execution and cremation in Delhi, Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, are also considered sacred by the Sikhs.

Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, who oversees government arrangements, informed IANS that the entire city has been painted white, symbolizing the Guru's radiant legacy for the expected pilgrims attending the ninth Guru Sahib's 350th martyrdom anniversary celebrations.

Two Tent Cities are being constructed at Chak Nanki Niwas and Bhai Mati Das Niwas to house 10,000 devotees, featuring a combination of four-bedded units and 16-bedded dormitory-style tents.

Online bookings for both Tent Cities will be available until November 30. For the 'Sarv Dharm Sammelan' on November 23, esteemed religious leaders including Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Dr. Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar (Jew), Bhikkhu Sanghsena (Buddhist), Swami Chidanand Saraswati, Acharaya Dr. Lokesh Muni (Jain), Rajyogi Dr. Binny Sareen (Brahma Kumari), Haji Syed Salman Chisty (Muslim), Mahant Gyandev Ji (Nirmal Akhada), Syed Afsar Ali Nizami (Muslim), and Parampujya Muktanand Bapuji and Mahant Sampurnanand (Panchagni Akhada) have been invited.

To ensure smooth transportation for devotees from parking areas to major venues, a comprehensive shuttle transport plan is in place.

The fleet includes 500 e-rickshaws, 150 mini-buses, 25 Force Urbania vans, 15 cars, 20 Tata Ace vehicles for support, and 10 golf carts for elderly and disabled pilgrims.

Shuttle services will run continuously between parking areas and Gurdwara Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Virasat-e-Khalsa, the main pandal, tent cities, and help desk locations.

To manage traffic efficiently, Minister Bains stated that recovery vans and cranes have been strategically positioned to address breakdowns and maintain smooth traffic flow.

A major tourist attraction in the city is the Virasat-e-Khalsa, located near Takht Keshgarh Sahib, the second most significant Sikh shrine after the Golden Temple complex, where the Khalsa Panth was established by Guru Gobind Singh on April 13, 1699.

Spanning 6,500 square meters, the Virasat-e-Khalsa museum narrates the history of Punjab and Sikhism using handcrafted artifacts and state-of-the-art technology interactively.

A stunning drone show highlighting the life and philosophy of Guru Tegh Bahadur will be organized at the Virasat-e-Khalsa memorial from November 23 to 29.

Bains mentioned that this evening drone show initiative aims to educate younger generations about the teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur utilizing advanced technology.

A robust force of over 8,000 police personnel, led by senior officers, has been deployed to ensure the safety and orderly movement of devotees.

The three-day celebration will kick off on November 23 at 10 a.m. with the commencement of Sri Akhand Path Sahib, anticipated to be attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

The grand commemorative events will culminate with a breathtaking drone show at 5 p.m..

(Contact Vishal Gulati at vishal.g@ians.in)