      Vaisakhi Melange |
The 311th " KHALSA PANTH FOUNDATION DAY CELEBRATIONS'' popularly known as "VAISAKHI" Festival was celebrated on a grand scale by the members of the Sikh community of Andhra Pradesh with gaiety and devotion today.
The major attraction of the celebrations was held at Sri Guru Gobind Singhji Play Grounds, Ameerpet, Hyderabad organised under the aegis of the Prabhandak Committee Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet, where over 25,000 Sikh devotees and other community faiths participated in the " VISHAAL DEEWAN " (Mass Congregation).
The congregation began at 11 am and continued upto 4.30 pm and was marked by the recitations of Holy Gurbani Keertans and Kathas (holy hymns) by the renowned Ragi Jathas (Religious preachers) who were specially invited from various parts of the country for the important occasion.
Bhai Gurpreet Singh ji of Shimla, Bhai Bakshish Singh ji Banda (Delhi), Bhai Surinder Singh, Hazuri Ragi Jatha, Bhai Gurmukh Singh ji, Jatha Tera Jatha and other reputed Ragi Jathas besides other local Ragi Jathas rendered Gurbani Keertans which stressed on imbibing the higher values of life in our day to day living.
The preachers called upon the devotees to follow the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib ji which stands for national integration. Communal harmony brotherhood and peace to the whole humanity.
Prabhandak Committee, President, S Amarjeet Singh and General Secretary, S Surender Singh welcomed the devotees.
After the culmination of the congregation, the traditional Guru-ka-Langar (free community kitchen) prepared specially by the devotees was served to all the devotees.
COLOURFUL NAGAR KEERTAN (Holy Procession) taken out : Later, in the evening a mass colourful "NAGAR KEERTAN" (Holy Procession ) was taken out from Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet and passed through the main corridors - Greenlands, Begumpet, Punjagutta and returned back to Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet in the evening.
Guru Granth Sahebji was carried on a beautifully decorated vehicle along with five "Nishaan Saheban" during the procession. Shabad Keertans were rendered by the Keerthani jathas of men, women and youth groups.
"Panj Pyaras" (five beloved ones) and sikh youths displayed "GATKA", extraordinary exercises with their swords and sharp weapons and other skills with breathtaking performances attracting the passerbys all along the procession route. "Kada Prasad", tea and snacks were supplied to the devotees and passerbys all along the routes.
VAISAKHI KEERTAN DARBAR (Night Congregation) was held between 8 pm and 1.30 am on April 15th at GURU GOBIND SINGHJI SPORTS STADIUM, AMEERPET, HYDERABAD.