Displaced Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) will undertake a pilgrimage to Gurudwara Anandpur Sahib in Punjab to pay tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru for sacrificing his life in a bid tosave the Hindus in Kashmir.
Film personalities from the community like Ashok Pandit and Preeti Saproo along with former state bureaucrat Kiran Wattal will lead the pilgrimage in first week of December under the banner of Vishwa Kashmiri Pandit Samaj (VKPS).
"The yatra, which is planned by various socio-cultural organisations across the country, will commence from Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi and proceed to Anandpur Sahab in Punjab," convener of the VKPS, Wattal told reporters.
Anandpur Sahib was founded in June 1665 by Guru Tegh Bahadur. He was revered as theninth Nanak - the ninth of ten Gurus of the Sikh religion.
Tegh Bahadur resisted the forced conversions of Kashmiri Pandits and non-Muslims to Islam, and sacrificed his life while saving them from conversion to Islam by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
His martyrdom is remembered as the Shaheedi Divas every year on 24 November.
Hindus of Kashmir are indebted to Guru Tegh Bahadur Singh Ji for sacrificing his life when they were facing brutalities and forceful conversions by Aurangzeb in Kashmir, Sapru said.
"The yatra is focused on sending a message through the country and across the globe that we should live in unison and safeguard those who are facing atrocities, forcible conversions and ethnic and religious discrimination", said the actress.
Film director Ashok Pandit said that VKPS is planning to build a memorial for Guru Tegh Bahadur Singh.
Sapru, Pandit and Watal appealed to all Hindus particularly Kashmiri Pandits to participates in large numbers in the forthcoming yatra in December.
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