Procession to mark tercentenary of Sikh hero reaches Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 29 (ANI): The six-week-long historical procession to hail the tercentenary celebrations of Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur has arrived at New Delhi.

The victory march of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur took off from Gurudwara Banda Ghat Sahib at Nanded located in India's western state of Maharashtra on March 30.

It will be travelling across several states before reaching its final destination, Sirhind at Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab, by May 14.

The Panj Piares (five beloved Sikhs) led a bedecked palanquin of Guru Granth Sahib, which was followed by vehicles displaying arms and ammunition of renowned Sikh warriors.

The grand Fateh march left from Maharashtra's Nanded, the holy place where Baba Banda Singh Bahadur met Guruji.

The march is passing through various states before culminating at Fatehgarh Sahib

The devotees are showing great happiness, enthusiasm, love and devotion with their participation.

"This march has entered Delhi today and city's devotees have welcomed the march with much fanfare. The procession has also been graced with the presence of prominent public figures from of the state," said Avtar Singh Makkar, President, Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

He also noted that one of the biggest attractions of this procession is the horse from the family of 'Neela Ghoda' (blue horse) of Guru Gobind Singh and the team of Gatka (traditional Indian martial art) made up by hundreds of Sikhs.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely were among the numerous public figures present to receive the procession.

" I am very happy that the Fateh March will pass through Delhi and stay here for three days giving an opportunity to the people of the city to be a part of the procession," said Sheila Dikshit.

This procession has been organised to salute the great Sikh General Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, whose real name was Madho Das. Guru Gobind Singh blessed and converted him into the Sikh fold.

After becoming one of Guru's true Sikhs 'Banda Bahadur', as he was popularly known, taught a lesson to the Mughals in Punjab by killing the then Governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan, in a war at Chhapadchiri.

One of the most revolutionary acts of Banda Bahadur, after establishing his authority in Punjab, was the abolition of the Zamindari system (a system employed by Mughals to collect taxes from peasants) and granting proprietary rights to the actual tillers of the land.

A park and a museum in his memory is being set up on 10 acres of land at Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab.(ANI)