Maharashtra plans state wide events to mark 350th martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur

MUMBAI: Maharashtra will hold year-long, state-wide events to mark the 350th martyrdom of the 9th Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, beginning in November. At a meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, representatives of the Sikh community and senior govt officials discussed preparations to make the events memorable.

Sant Gyani Harnam Singh Khalsa, Pradahan of Sant Samaj, was among the Sikh representatives who attended the meeting. “This event of religious tolerance and national consciousness is of immense importance to the country,” Khalsa said.PM Narendra Modi, HM Amit Shah, and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath are expected to attend three major gatherings at Nanded, Nagpur, and Mumbai Metropolitan Region, respectively.“This historic event will help Maharashtra reaffirm its reputation as a symbol of cultural consciousness, religious tolerance, and national integrity. We are glad the CM is taking personal interest in making the events memorable,” said Bal Malkit Singh, Convenor, Maharashtra Sikh Association and Director of the state-level organising committee of the events.Malkit Singh added that the events will not only create awareness about the Guru's life and works but will also help foster love, peace and communal harmony.Fadnavis said that a special booklet on the life and values of Guru Tegh Bahadur will be published in Hindi, Punjabi, and Marathi to propagate the story of the Guru’s life and sacrifice and make the new generation aware of his values.