Chandigarh-Sacred soil from Varanasi, the birthplace of Sant Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj, which commenced its nationwide journey on July 29, will be accorded a ceremonial welcome by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and prominent saints upon its arrival at the Punjab border near Paradise Resort, Village Jharmari (near Lalru) at 10 a.m. on August 1. The sacred procession will then pass through Ram Talai Road, Dera Bassi, and near Metro Wholesale, Zirakpur, before reaching Arya Samaj Mandir, Sector 7, Chandigarh, where a state-level programme will be organised. Following the programme, Kalash Yatras carrying the sacred soil will be ceremonially flagged off to all districts of Punjab, marking the beginning of the state's six-month-long celebrations of the 650th Prakash Parv of Sant Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj.
From August 2 to 6, the Kalash Yatras will travel from district headquarters to villages across Punjab, carrying Sant Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj's message of equality, fraternity, social justice and the vision of Begampura to every corner of the state. The campaign will be followed by a two-month youth outreach programme in schools, colleges and among young people, culminating in a nationwide yatra that will conclude in Varanasi on February 20.
Announcing the programme at a press conference in Chandigarh on Friday, BJP Punjab State General Secretary Sardar Jagmohan Singh Raju said the party has drawn up a comprehensive six-month programme to commemorate the 650th Prakash Parv of Sant Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj with the objective of taking Guru Ji's timeless message of equality, social harmony, brotherhood and justice to every household across Punjab.
Raju said the commemorative campaign reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, " under which the BJP has consistently worked to honour the spiritual and cultural heritage of India's great saints and Gurus. He said the party had earlier organised nationwide commemorations of the 550th Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the 350th Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and the 400th Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, and is now committed to making the 650th Prakash Parv of Sant Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj a true people's movement.
He said the nationwide celebrations began in Varanasi on July 29 with the ceremonial dispatch of the sacred soil associated with Sant Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj. Its arrival in Punjab on August 1 will formally launch the state-level phase of the nationwide commemorative campaign.
Expressing confidence over the response, Raju said people from all sections of society would participate enthusiastically in the historic celebrations and help spread Sant Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj's timeless message of peace, equality, unity and social harmony throughout Punjab.