Tercentenary programme schedule out

CHANDIGARH, Jan 18: Lata Mangeshkar, eminent rababi Lalji from Pakistan, the descendant of Bhai Mardana, who used to accompany Guru Nanak...

CHANDIGARH, Jan 18: Lata Mangeshkar, eminent rababi Lalji from Pakistan, the descendant of Bhai Mardana, who used to accompany Guru Nanak Dev, Pandit Jasraj and Jagjit Singh would recite shabads Sikh hymns at Anandpur Sahib at a function in April as part of the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations.

Addressing a news conference after finalising the Khalsa tercentenary programmes at a meeting of the office-bearers of the Akali Dal, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Anandpur Sahib Foundation, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said B.R. Chopra had agreed to produce a 26-episode TV serial on Sikh history.

It would be Diwali atmosphere for three days with quot;deepmalasquot; all over Punjab from April 12.

Badal left for Delhi today to invite President K. R. Narayanan and Vice-President Krishna Kant to these celebrations. Narayanan is to be invited to the meet of spiritual leaders on April 13 and Kant at another function on April 12. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, members of the Union Cabinet and chief ministers from other states would be invited to the function on April 14.

Each member of the SGPC would persuade 300 persons to get baptised.

Khalsa marches would be organised from all the five places to which the quot;Panj Piarasquot; five beloved ones, who were the first to be baptised by Guru Gobind Singh, belonged. These marches would converge at Anandpur Sahib. The dates and the organising committees for these marches are being finalised. The state governments concerned would be approached for this purpose. One of them belonged to Lahore in Pakistan.

Making an appeal to all to extend cooperation, the Chief Minister gave an open call to all the political parties and the religious leaders to participate in these marches, which would quot;represent the secular face of Sikh philosophyquot;.

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A Khalsa Chardi Kala March would originate from Damdama Sahib in Bathinda district on March 8. The Khalsa parade would be taken out from Kiratpur Sahib to Anandpur Sahib on April 12.

Seminars would be organised at different places in Punjab as part of the district-wise celebrations. An international seminar on Sikh religion would also be organised. A Guru Gobind Singh Chair would be set up at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. A two-week long exhibition on Sikh history would be put up at Anandpur Sahib from April 7. Literature would be produced on different aspects of Sikhism. Competition in martial sports would be organised at Anandpur Sahib.A convention centre on the pattern of the India International Centre would be constructed in Delhi in the name of Guru Gobind Singh.

Badal said some additions could be made to these programmes which would be spread over the year.