AMRITSAR: In a significant move, the Damdami Taksal Jan. 8 announced the organization of a “Khalsa march” from Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash Chowk Mehta to Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of Hola Mohalla in March.
A press release under the signatures of the Taksal chics. Baon Thakur Singh said that the march would begin on March 14, headed by ‘Panj Piyarus,’ and would arrive at Takht Koshgarh Sahib at Anandpur the next day, touching on Amritsar, Jandhar, Ludhiana and Ropar enroute.
Baba Thakur Singh, however, made it clear that the march would be purely religious with the aims of proaching of religion. ‘amrit sanchar’ (baptize Sikhism) and to intensify the “Singh sajo lehar” (become Sikh campaign).
The march will be in accordance with Sikh religious norms and in close association with the “Sant Samaj.” the release claimed.
A Taksal spokesman, Malkiat Singh, said that the decision to hold the march was taken recently at a meeting of senior leaders of 10 Taksal, presided over by Baba Thakur Singh.
With this announcement, the Damdami Taksal has wrested the initiative for organizing the Khalsa march from the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Prof Manjit Singh who had organized similar Khalsa marches in the last two years. The first four day Khalsa march was held from Gurdwara Guru Ki Wadali in Amritsar district, to Anandpur Sahib beginning October 15, 1993. The second march last year from Gurdwara Damdama Sahib, Sri Hargobindpur in Gurdaspur district to Damdama Sahib Talwandi Sabo in Bhatinda on the occasion of Baisakhi.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 13, 1995
