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Baisakhi: Sikh pilgrims arrive in Pak
by Ravinder Singh Robin

          Wagah: About 3000 Sikh pilgrims from India have arrived in Pakistan by special trains to participate in Baisakhi celebrations. The festival also marks the birth anniversary of the 'Khalsa Panth' or the Sikh order, which was established in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth spiritual leader of the Sikhs. Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Lt Gen (Retired) Zulifqar Ali Khan along with senior board officials and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) President Sardar Bishen Singh accorded a warm welcome to the devotees on their arrival at the Wagah railway station, the last border railway station with India . The devotees urged more people-people contact between the two countries. "We request to the people of both the countries, we request to the rulers to make efforts to bring people closer and closer so that both the countries together, by the grace of God, move towards prosperity," said Manjeet Singh, a Sikh devotee. "I feel really glad to see a welcoming atmosphere here. I pray to Wahegurujee (Almighty) that we meet each other and be brethren again," said Amarjeet Kaur, a woman devotee. The Sikh pilgrims are scheduled to attend weeklong celebrations of Baisakhi to be held at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassanabdal. They will also visit Lahore , Nankana Saheb and other religious places, including Gurdwara Kartarpur Saheb. They will be attending the main function of Baisakhi till 14th of April and later travel to Nankana Saheb, Gurdwara Janam Asthan and Tamboo Saheb to perform religious ceremonies for three days. During their pilgrimage, the devotees will also celebrate the 308th birthday of Guru Gobind Singh. Around 13,000 Sikhs with 4000 from India , 1000 from Europe , and 8000 Pakistani devotees would participate in one of their largest festivals. Every year, thousands of Sikhs from India and other countries visit Nankana Sahib on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Punjab was divided between the two countries after India was freed from the British rule in 1947. Important Sikh shrines such as Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib among others remained in Pakistan while the major chunk of Sikh community remained in India.
- April 10, 2007

Devotees walk on embers to appease goddess
by Saraada Lahangir

          Puri: Hindus worshippers in Puri walked on embers during a local festival called Jhamu Jatra for good luck and fortune on Tuesday. "Jhamu Jatra" is celebrated in the month of April-May in Karkatpur town of Puri district. Devotees paid obeisance to the presiding deity of a local temple, 'Mangla' or goddess of good luck. Hordes of people from all over the region flock to the temple to see devotees walking on burning embers to appease the lady luck, goddess 'Mangla'. A pit of about ten to twelve feet long is dug in front of the shrine and filled with cartloads of wood and charcoal. It is then set on fire and devotees walk on it, amidst a deafening beating of trumpets, drums and cymbals, in the belief it brings good luck to them. "We celebrate 13 festivals in 12 months and 'Jhamu Jatra' is one of them. Here the devotees walk on a 10-12 feet long pit filled with wood on fire. The fire over which they walk is considered very pure," said Radhanath Panda, a temple priest. Visitors coming from far-flung areas believe that there is something about the festival, which draws them to the place every time. "We come here once a year to fulfil our wishes. It is a good place and it compels us to come back again," said Kuna Sasmal, a visitor. The rituals generate tremendous fervour amongst the devotees during the festival.
- April 4, 2007

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