Covid norms go for a toss amid Baisakhi celebrations

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Talwandi Sabo, April 13

Covid guidelines went for a toss as large number of devotees today paid obeisance and took a dip in the sarovar at Damdama Sahib gurdwara to mark Baisakhi.

No social distancing was maintained and people were seen without masks. There was no arrangement of thermal scanning also.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who along with his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal paid obeisance at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, had to face protest from a section of devotees. The issue of farmers’ protest and three agricultural laws remained at the centrestage. Addressing devotees, Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh accused the BJP-led Centre of working for the benefit of corporate houses and hurting the economic interest of Sikhs. SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur said Baisakhi was celebrated across the world wherever Sikhs resided. Besides roadside toy-sellers, eating joints and langar (community kitchen), serpentine queues and a heavy rush of vehicles were seen amid the recitation of religious verses.

Community kitchens were set up at numerous places on the roads leading to Talwandi Sabo. Other gurdwaras in the city were also decorated on the occasion and witnessed a huge rush of devotees. The administration and the police authorities had made elaborate security arrangements and made sure that devotees did not face any inconvenience.