Fateh Yatra from Rajouri
Snaps of the Fateh Yatra started from Rajouri Jammu Kashmir the birth place of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on 11-05-2010
A grand ‘Sirhind Fateh Divas’ (victory day) march in connection with the Tercentenary (300th) celebrations of Sirhind victory by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur commenced from the birth place (Rajouri) of the great worrior for Punjab here today.
Over three thousand Sikh devotees and others after grand ‘Shobha Yatra’ in the historic township of Rajouri in the morning, left for Jammu at around 11.30 am. From the border town of Poonch nearly 20 buses and some light vehicles reached Rajouri. SSP Poonch Manmohan Singh and Additional DC Matloob Khan flaged off the march at Poonch town. Earlier, in the morning the Sikh Sanghat assembled at main Gurdwara Poonch and offered prayers before leaving for birth place of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Rajouri.
Thousands of Sikhs and other community members assembled at Gurdwara Chhati Padshahai Rajouri town and offered special prayers. Punjab Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langeh, SGPB chairman T S Wazir, District Gurdwara Panbandhak Committee Rajouri, president Nirman Singh and several other religious leaders and social activists recalled the sacrifices and achievements of Guru Gobind Singh ji and his follower Baba Banda Singh Bahadur who fought with the Mughals and conquered Sirhind and established rule of law, nearer to democracy in Punjab.
A grand on-foot victory march with Holy ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ placed on a highly decorated vehicle (Large Rath) commenced from Gurdwara and after passing through Bus Stand and main Bazar Rajouri it reached near Higher Secondary School where Sikh youth displayed their martial art with sword (Gatka). Gurbani Path was continuously recited by the high priests and was audible through Loud Speakers fitted atop vehicles. Traditional Sikh religious slogans were being raised by the devotees.
At around 10.30 am victory march started from Rajouri and at Nowshera, some more people joined. The Sangat was offered Parsad / Sharbat by the people at Nowshera Gurdwara and Sunderbani besides Tanda and Akhnoor by people from different communities. Nearly two hundred vehicles including nearly 100 buses, eighty light vehicles five trucks and several mini-buses reached Jammu at around 7 pm. They were accorded grand reception by the members of DGPC Jammu, SAD leaders and activists and the administration near Bakshi Nagar Gurdwara.
Mr Wazir said that over three thousand devotees who arrived here will be accommodated at various Gurdwaras including Kalgi Dhar. Victory procession was also taken out in some parts of the old city and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will offer prayers and flag off the victory march for Sirhind in Punjab at around 9 am from Gumat Gurdwara (Bibi Chand Kour Samadh) on Wednesday. He said at Madhopur, Yatra will be received by Punjab State Gurdwara Parbandhak Board and other Reception Committee members. It will take night halt at Darbar Saheb Amritsar tomorrow and after Darshan and offering prayers at Golden Temple, Victory marchers will leave for Sirhind Fatehgarh SahIB. Thousands of Sikh devotees and others from Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, Samba, Udhampur and Kathua districts and other parts of J&K State in nearly 300 buses and equal number of light and medium vehicles, left for Punjab ( Sirhind) in connection with Tercentenary celebrations of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Fatehgarh Sahib from here today. The grand ‘Sirhind Fateh Divas’ (victory march) religious yatra in connection with the Tercentenary (300th) celebrations of Sirhind victory by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur against Mughals, commenced from the birth place of the great worrior from Rajouri on Wednesday. Thousands of devotees joined Fateh Divas march at Jammu here this morning. A grand reception was accorded to the thousands of devotees who arrived here from Rajouri last evening by DGPC, SAD members besides other citizens and religious and social activists. District Administration was also involved in making arrangements for the smooth passage of yatra and ensuring other facilities. This historic religious ‘Shobha yatra’ comprising thousands of Sikhs and other community members assembled at Gurdwara Chhati Padshahi, Rajouri town on May 11 in the morning and offered special prayers. Punjab Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langeh, SGPB chairman T S Wazir, District Gurdwara Panbandhak Committee Rajouri, president Nirman Singh and several other religious leaders and social activists recalled the sacrifices and achievements of Guru Gobind Singh ji and his follower, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur who fought with the Mughals and conquered Sirhind and established rule of law in Punjab. A grand on-foot victory march with Holy ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ placed on a highly decorated vehicle (Large Rath) commenced from Gurdwara and after passing through Bus Stand and main Bazar of Rajouri it started for Jammu at around 11.30 am and reached in the winter capital here at around 7 pm.
In the morning Sikh devotees who had stayed at various religious places, Sarais etc. assembled at Gumat Gurdwara in the morning and started Victory march for Golden Temple, Amritsar. SGPC Amritsar chief, Avtar Singh Makkar was the chief guest who flagged off the march at around 11 am here. Besides him, Punjab Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langeh , J&K SGPC president T S Wazir were also present. BJP legislators Chaman Lal Gupta and Ashok Khajuria felicitated the Sikh Sangat on the occasion. Holy Guru Granth Saheb was placed on the highly decorated vehicle (Rath) leading the procession. Various Sikh youth were witnessed displaying their martial art with sword (Gatka). Panj Piyaras carrying swords and in traditional dress were leading the grand Shobha Yatra . Gurbani Path was continuously recited by the high priests and was audible through loud speakers fitted on the vehicles. The victory slogans were being raised by the devotees.
The devotees in nearly 300 buses/ trucks and equal number of light / medium vehicles left for Punjab. A large number of devotees were travelling on motor-cycles. They were accorded grand reception at Satwari, Vijaypur, Samba, Rajbagh and Kathua. They were also offered Sharbat and Parshad enroute. DGPC Kathua led by Charanjit Singh Bhola felicitated the Shobha Yatra and had made arrangements for water and Parsad. District administration also rendered full assistance. At around 4.15 pm Shobha Yatra was accorded grand reception at Madhopur bridge by DGPC Amritsar members and activists and leaders of SAD besides two Punjab Ministers.
Mr Wazir told Excelsior that vitory marchers from J&K were accorded reception enroute Amritsar including at Gurdaspur, Dhariwal and Batala. Thousands or more devotees joined victory march for Sirhind Fatehgarh Saheb during the day today enroute. Devotees will have night stay at Darbar Saheb, Golden temple, Amritsar and after offering prayers tomorrow morning would leave for Fatehgarh Sahib ( Sirhind) at around 9 am. A grand function in connection with the 300th victory celebtrations will be held at Sirhind
