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Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, January 14
Fewer political conferences this year has got mixed response from the public as devotees were happy with lesser crowd on city roads and heaved a sigh of relief from the traffic jam, but shopkeepers said their business was affected.
A visit to all main roads in the town today showed that though there was hustle and bustle everywhere, the crowd was comparatively lesser than the past years.
People were seen travelling on two-wheelers on the Malout road where swings have been installed, which was not possible last year. Further, the traffic was almost normal on the Bathinda and Kotkapura roads. In the old city, there was congestion.
However, the shopkeepers said their business was hit as the Congress and AAP did not hold their conferences this year.
“The political parties require so many things for the conference, which include tent, sound system, food items and hoardings. The two other main parties did not hold the conference this year, which affected our business,” said a local businessman, who deals in publicity material.
On the other hand, Vijaypal Singh, a devotee from Kotkapura, said, “Religious affairs should be kept free from politics. It was good to see lesser political conferences this year. The parties should refrain from holding rallies on Maghi. They indulge into mudslinging, which gives a bad name to the religious event as well. The politicians should rather come and pay obeisance at the gurdwaras here.”
Notably, a number of langars were organised in and around the town. For instance, in the 30-km stretch of Malout-Muktsar, six community kitchens were set up by devotees offering food items.
Muktsar SSP Sushil Kumar claimed, “We have not received any theft complaint today. A large number of policemen were deployed in and around the town and the day passed off peacefully.”
Bigwigs pay obeisance
Unlike the past, all bigwigs who came to the town today paid obeisance at the historic gurdwara Darbar Sahib. They included Manpreet Singh Badal, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Karan Kaur Brar, Honey Fattanwala, Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Bhai Harnirpal Singh Kuku of the Congress.
From the SAD camp were Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bikram Singh Majithia, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Rozy Barkandi and Manjinder Singh Bittu.
SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal also put in appearance. Former MP Jagmeet Brar too paid obeisance by visiting the gurdwara early morning. AAP MP from Faridkot, Prof Sadhu Singh, paid obeisance two days ago.
Importance of Maghi Mela
Maghi Mela is held every year on the next day of Lohri to commemorate the 40 ‘Muktas’ (liberated ones) who laid down their lives while fighting the last battle of Sikhs against the Mughals in 1705 here at ‘Khidrane di Dhab’, now known as Sri Muktsar Sahib.
A large number of people from faraway places come to see the mela and pay obeisance at historic gurdwaras in the town and take a holy dip in the ‘sarowar’ (holy pond). Some local residents also provide accommodation to devotees without charging any fee.
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