Punjab plans grand celebrations for Guru Govind Singh's birth

The 350th birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh will be celebrated on a global scale, with focus on the Guru's message on peace, love and universal brotherhood.
The commemorative events spread over an entire year will feature among other things seminars on the works, history and philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh, especially in the context of major movements of spiritual substance down the ages.
The state government will make a provision for Rs 100 crore to be spent on organizing various events throughout the anniversary year.
These were some of the key decisions taken at a high level meeting chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at his residence here, advisor to the Chief Minister on National Affairs and Media, Harcharan Bains said today.

Bains said a Foundation, under the chairmanship of the Punjab Chief Minister and comprising eminent religious personages, Sikh scholars, including historians, religious and social thinkers as representatives, will be set up and an endowment fund of Rs 5 crore will be created for it.
The Chief Minister will be holding a series of meetings with eminent scholars of Sikh religion and philosophy and solicit their help and cooperation in helping the government conduct the events, Bains said.

Badal will be going to Delhi tomorrow to meet some central ministers regarding some issues that need to be addressed for a smooth observance of the anniversary.

Bains said there are issues regarding upgrading and modernizing infrastructure around the shrine in Patna Sahib as well as un-clogging traffic arteries in the city for smooth passage of procession during the celebrations.
Badal believes that the message of peace and communal harmony is the cornerstone of the teachings of the great Gurus and these ideals are the need of the hour to save not just India but societies and countries across the globe, he said.