JAMMU/CHANDIGARH, November 19 — The Nagar Kirtan commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji received an enthusiastic reception from devotees and district administrations as it travelled nearly 250 kilometres from Srinagar to reach Jammu, its first major halt.
The religious procession had begun from Gurdwara Patshahi Chhevin in Srinagar and was welcomed with reverence at several points along the route. In district Kulgam, the Sangat of Palpura — a village with a prominent Sikh population — joined senior officials in receiving the Nagar Kirtan. Among those present were SSP Traffic Kashmir Province Ravinder Pal Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Sandeep Singh Bali, SDM Dooru Pravez Rahim and Tehsildar Qazigund Sajjad Ahmed.
Devotees presented intricately embroidered rumalas as a gesture of respect, while tea and fruit langar was served to the accompanying Sangat. A langar was later organised by the Sangat at Qazigund in Anantnag district.
Further along the route, district Ramban welcomed the Nagar Kirtan at Chandarpur, where tea and pakora langar was arranged for the 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 among the officials present. The District Gurdwara Management Committee Ramban also extended its support and hospitality.
Officials said robust arrangements were in place throughout the Jammu and Kashmir stretch, including coordinated traffic management and deployment of fire services, ambulances and medical teams.
The Nagar Kirtan will cover a total of 544 kilometres before reaching Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 22. The next leg of the journey will see the procession departing from Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Chand Nagar (Jammu) to reach Pathankot on November 20, followed by a halt in Hoshiarpur on November 21.
