Decked-up Patna turns into a ‘city of Sikhs’, devotees ‘overwhelmed’ by hospitality

The devotees are coming to join the grand celebrations being held to commemorate the 350th birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Govind Singh.

Although the function has already got off to a symbolic start with the launch of ‘prabhat pheris’, the main function will be held from December 31 to January 5 for which massive arrangements have been made.

One of the  guests to attend the function is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will be visiting Patna on January 5.

Quite many devotees have expressed happiness over magnificent arrangements made for the occasions.

“We can’t have expected such arrangements even in Punjab. There is just no word to express my happiness,” remarked Guruprit Singh.

“The arrangements have won our hearts. It looks like we have reached Amritsar and the Takht Shri Harmandirji Patna Sahib has turned into the Golden temple,” Said Amandeep Singh who has come from Mumbai.

“It’s wonderful. Nitish Kumar has really won our hearts. I would have thanked and kissed his forehead had he met me,” remarked another devotee Harvinder Kaur. Kaur who hails from Jalandhar has come with her family.

Close to half million devotees from across India and abroad are expected to visit Patna to join the religious event.

The state government has erected three tent cities at Gandhi Maidan, Patna by-pass and Kangan Ghat in the state capital with the capacity to accommodate 60,000 devotees. The others will be housed in lodges, schools and other buildings.

Keeping in view the expected huge rush of pilgrims, authorities have also made massive arrangements for security, transportation, fooding, medical check-up and entertainments.

Guru Gobind Singh was born on December 22, 1666, to ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and Mata Gujri. He was anointed the supreme leader of the Sikhs at the age of nine, becoming the last of the Sikh Gurus.

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