Gurpurab, Kartik Purnima celebrated with fervour

Thousands of Sikh devotees today thronged gurudwaras across the country on the occasion of Gurpurab, while lakhs of Hindus took holy dip in rivers and lakes in various states to mark Kartik Purnima.
Devotees in large numbers thronged the Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar and other gurudwaras decked up for the occasion since early morning to pay obeisance on Gurpurab, which marks the 545th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
Braving cold weather, lakhs of devout Hindus and Sikhs also took holy dip in rivers and lakes across the country on the occasion of Kartik Purnima, which is celebrated on the 15th lunar day of Kartik month (November-December).

The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak was born on the day of Kartik Purnima in 1469 AD, and the day is celebrated as Gurpurab by Sikhs.
Nagar kirtans were taken out in various towns yesterday, led by the Panj Pyaras (the five beloved ones).
In Punjab, Sikhs and devotees from other faiths thronged gurudwaras in Patiala, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Moga, Bathinda, Anandpur Sahib, Phagwara, Ferozepur, Ropar, Mohali among other places.

They paid obeisance in specially decorated gurdwaras in Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Sirsa of Haryana on the occasion of Gurpurab, one of the most sacred festivals for Sikhs.
'Gatka' teams displayed swordsmanship through different martial arts and at mock battles using traditional weapons.

Amid tight security, nearly seven lakh pilgrims took holy dip since early morning at the 'sarovars' at Bilaspur in Yamunanagar district of Haryana on the fifth day of the religious 'Kapal Mochan Mela'.
The pilgrims, who have been reaching here during the past week from different parts of north India, started taking holy dip at the five sarovars at the stroke of midnight.
Officials said keeping in view the heavy rush, the mela administration had made large-scale arrangements for the convenience of the pilgrims.
The Ganga 'snan' mela in Moradabad also saw lakhs of devouts taking a dip in the holy river.

Except for two cases of drowning and two accidents, the Ganga 'snan' went off peacefully, Amroha SP said.
Different social organisations also had made elaborate arrangements for different types of 'langars' (community feasts) at the mela grounds.