DW BUREAU / CHANDIGARH

Devotees across Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh offered prayers at gurdwaras on the occasion of Baisakhi festival on Sunday. Scores of people paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib in Bathinda, and Dukh Nivaran Sahib in Patiala, among other gurdwaras.

Baisakhi festival also marks the foundation day of the 'Khalsa Panth' (Sikh order) by the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.

On this day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the 'Order of Khalsa' in the holy city of Sri Anandpur Sahib by baptising 'Panj Pyaras (beloved ones) belonging to different castes.

Baisakhi also marks the onset of the harvest season.

Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria extended warm greetings on Baisakhi festival.

In his message, Kataria said Baisakhi has a multi-faceted importance. It marks the ripening of the Rabi harvest, a time of great joy for the farmers to reap the fruits of their hard labour, he said.

The governor said the occasion has a special significance in the glorious history of Sikhism, as on this day, Guru Gobind Singh founded the 'Order of Khalsa' at Sri Anandpur Sahib to fight against the tyranny of the Mughals and to protect human and secular ethos and sacrificed his entire family for this cause. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann greeted people on the occasion of 'Khalsa Sajna Divas' and 'Baisakhi'. He, along with his wife, paid obeisance at the Dukh Nivaran Gurdwara in Patiala. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, who also greeted people on the occasion of Baisakhi, offered prayers at the gurdwara in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab.

He also visited a gurdwara in South City-I in Gurugram and said Guru Gobind Singh instilled the spirit of courage and sacrifice in people.

He said Guru Gobind Singh established Khalsa Panth to fight injustice and oppression.

At that time, the country was ruled by the Mughals. They were inflicting severe atrocities on the people and they were being forced to convert. The society was divided based on caste and religion. Guru Gobind Singh inspired people to make sacrifices to protect their religion and honour, he said at Gurdwara Sadh Sangat.

"A Sikh museum will be established in Kurukshetra so that the community can remain connected with its history and the next generations can be informed about the great sacrifices of our gurus," Saini said. / PTI /

(editor@dailyworld.in)