JAMMU: The Nagar Kirtan that commenced from Gurdwara Patshahi Chhevin in Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) to mark the 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Ninth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, covered nearly 250 kilometres to reach its first halt at Jammu. Devotees and local district administrations welcomed the religious procession with deep reverence at several points along the route.
In district Kulgam, the Sangat of Palpura, a village with a sizeable Sikh population and senior officials including SSP Traffic Kashmir Province Ravinder Pal Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Sandeep Singh Bali, SDM Dooru Pravez Rahim and Tehsildar Qazigund Sajjad Ahmed in offering a heartfelt reception. Devotees presented beautifully embroidered rumalas as homage, while tea and fruit langar was arranged for the accompanying Sangat. Later, another langar was organised by the Sangat at Qazigund in district Anantnag.
Similarly, the district administration of Ramban welcomed the Nagar Kirtan at Chandarpur where tea and pakora langar was prepared for devotees. Deputy Commissioner Alyaz Khan, SSP Traffic Adil Hameed, Additional Deputy Commissioner Varunjeet Charak, ACS Shaukat Mattoo, Additional SP Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and Tehsildar Deep Kumar were present on the occasion. The District Gurdwara Management Committee Ramban also extended a warm welcome to the Nagar Kirtan.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration ensured robust arrangements for the Nagar Kirtan including streamlined traffic management along with deployment of fire services, ambulances and medical staff.
The Nagar Kirtan, which began from Srinagar, will cover a total span of 544 kilometres before reaching Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 22. In its next phase, the procession will depart from Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Chand Nagar (Jammu) and arrive in Pathankot on November 20 followed by a halt in Hoshiarpur on 21 November.