Martyrdom day Banda Singh Bahadur observed

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 25

The martyrdom day of first Sikh ruler Banda Singh Bahadur was observed in various gurdwaras, including the Golden Temple and the Manji Sahib Gurdwara in the city. A large number of devotees paid obeisance at the Golden Temple on the occasion. Chabeels were also organised across the city due to high temperatures.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) organised a separate programme to observe the martyrdom day of Banda Singh Bhadhur, his son Ajay Singh and a hundred other Sikhs, who were massacred by Mughal rulers in Delhi. After the bhog of the Akhand Path, Bhai Gopal Singh recited the hymns from Gurbani. Speaking on the occasion, SGPC chief secretary Harcharan Singh said Banda Singh Bahadur adopted the philosophy of Guru Nanak to stand for the depressed. He circulated coins with names of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh and established the Khalsa Raj. Banda Singh Bahadur implemented the land reforms and gave the property rights to farmers which was done for the first time in the history.