The 349th 'Parkash Utsav' (birth anniversary) of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh was today celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.
Braving chill and foggy weather conditions, devotees including women and children made beeline early this morning at various Gurdwaras including the Golden Temple at Amritsar and Takht Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib to pay their obeisance.
Despite cold conditions, devotees took holy dip in the 'Sarovar' (tank).
Gurdwaras were tastefully decked up to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, founder of the 'Khalsa Panth'.
Akhand Paths (non-stop recitation of Guru Granth Sahib) were held, followed by 'kirtan'(hymn-singing), 'katha' (religious discourse), 'kavita-kavishari'(religious poetry) in Gurdwaras.
Devotees partook the 'Langar'(community kitchen) which was served in Gurdwaras.
In Anandpur Sahib in year 1699, the tenth Sikh Guru founded the 'Khalsa' and baptised first five Sikhs (Panj Piaras).
Punjab government had already announced to extend its support and cooperation to Bihar government for the commemoration of 350th Parkash Utsav of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh next year at Patna (Bihar), where the Guru was born in 1666.
