In Nitish's bihar, Three-day holiday for govt employees on Sikh festival

Patna, Sep 21: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said that the state is fully prepared to celebrate the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, in January 2017.

Nitish Kumar also announced a three-day state holiday during the festival, known as 'Prakash-Parv', and which will be celebrated at Takht Sri Harmandir Patna Sahib, the birthplace of the 10th Guru.

"It is going to be a grand and memorable celebration and we are working for it. There will be no lack of coordination and Sikh pilgrims from across India and the world will not face any problem.

"It is our duty to provide every possible facility and to ensure their visit in this religious festival is a smooth one," the Chief Minister told a press conference here.

Nitish Kumar said the government has already developed the infrastructure for the celebrations by widening roads in Patna Sahib, sprucing up the Ganga riverfront and making arrangements for safe shelters for Sikh pilgrims.

"The government will set up a 'tented city' for the celebrations in view of the expected massive participation of Sikhs".

The government has also decided to work on crowd management for the safety and security of the Sikh pilgrims. "It is the duty of the state government to make all arrangements," he said.

Lakhs of Sikhs from across the world are expected to congregate here, officials of the Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib said.

Guru Gobind Singh's message of tolerance and respect to all religions is relevant and important even today, said Nitish Kumar.

Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna in 1666 to Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru and Mata Gujri.

Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib, widely known as Patna Sahib, was built in remembrance of the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the late 1830s.

IANS