Speaker pays floral tributes to great warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on the occasion of His Birth Anniversary

Chandigarh, 16 October 2025:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan paid floral tributes to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji on the occasion of His 355th birth anniversary at Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat. He was accompanied by MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh, MLA Fauja Singh Sarari,Secretary Punjab Vidhan Sabha Ram Lok Khatana and other staff members.

He highlighted that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji was a great warrior who dedicated His entire life for the welfare of humanity. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji was founder of first Sikh rule in Punjab who abolished the zamindari system and provided ownership rights to the tillers of land. His memories will always remain in our hearts. We should follow the path as shown by Him in our life.

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PUNJAB MINISTERS MEET KARNATAKA CM SIDDARAMAIAH TO INVITE HIM FOR 350TH MARTYRDOM ANNIVERSARY OF SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR JI

• HARBHAJAN SINGH ETO AND BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL EXTEND FORMAL INVITATION FOR SACRED COMMEMORATION EVENTS AT SRI ANANDPUR SAHIB

• MINISTERS BRIEF KARNATAKA CM ON DETAILED SCHEDULE OF RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL EVENTS PLANNED FROM OCTOBER 25 TO NOVEMBER 25

• SIDDARAMAIAH LAUDS PUNJAB GOVT’S INITIATIVE TO UPHOLD GURU SAHIB’S UNIVERSAL MESSAGE OF UNITY AND SACRIFICE

Chandigarh/Bengaluru, October 16:Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO and Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today met Karnataka Chief Minister Sh. Siddaramaiah at Bengaluru to extend a formal invitation for the 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of the Ninth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, to be held at Sri Anandpur Sahib next month.

During the meeting, both the Ministers apprised the Chief Minister about the series of religious events being organized to honour the supreme sacrifice of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, revered as the ‘Hind Di Chadar’. They also invited him to participate in the concluding commemorative events at Sri Anandpur Sahib and shared details of the nationwide events being planned to mark the historic occasion.

Highlighting the elaborate arrangements, the Cabinet Ministers informed that the commemorations will begin with Ardaas at Gurdwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi on October 25 followed by Kirtan Darbar at Gurdwara Sri Rakab Ganj Sahib the same evening. They said the state government will host Light and Sound shows across all 23 districts from November 1 to 18 depicting Guru Sahib’s life and teachings, while 130 ‘Charan Chhoh’ sites linked with Guru Sahib's travels will hold Kirtan Darbars and devotional gatherings.

They further shared that four Nagar Kirtans will commence from different parts, from Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) and from Gurdaspur, Faridkot and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Punjab) and all Nagar Kirtans will converge at Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 22 evening. The main events will take place from November 23 to 25, with the setup of a Tent City “Chakk Nanki” to accommodate more than 11,000 devotees daily. The events will include an Sri Akhand Path Sahib, Sarb Dharam Sammelan, special session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha at Bhai Jaita Ji Memorial, a drone show on the life of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji and Kirtan Darbar by renowned Raagis.

The Cabinet Ministers also informed the Karnataka Chief Minister that several welfare and social service initiatives will accompany the spiritual programs, including blood donation camps, an organ donation drive and a mega plantation campaign involving the plantation of 3.50 lakh saplings.

Expressing appreciation, Chief Minister Sh. Siddaramaiah commended Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government for organising the commemorations at such a monumental scale and said the teachings of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji continue to inspire generations across the nation with the message of equality, tolerance and self-sacrifice. He assured his full support and goodwill for the successful organisation of the event.

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CM AND ENTIRE PUNJAB CABINET TO PERFORM ARDAS AT GURDWARA SIS GANJ SAHIB TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF EVENTS TO COMMEMORATE 350th MARTYRDOM DAY OF SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR JI

GRAND KIRTAN DARBAR TO BE ORGANISED AT GURDWARA SRI RAKAB GANJ SAHIB ON SAME EVENING

New Delhi/ Chandigarh, October 16-The Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will commence a series of commemorative events dedicated to the 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of the Ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, by performing an Ardas at the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in New Delhi on October 25.

Addressing the media today at Punjab Bhawan New Delhi Cabinet Ministers Harjot Singh Bains and Tarunpreet Singh Sond along with Advisor (Tourism & Cultural Affairs) Deepak Bali announced that the state government has finalized the month-long schedule dedicated to this historic occasion. They informed that the series of event will begin on October 25 at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi, where Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Cabinet Ministers and other prominent dignitaries will pay obeisance. On this occasion, the Chief Minister will also visit the sacred martyrdom sites of Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji, and Bhai Dayala Ji, who made unparalleled sacrifices in devotion to the Guru.

Later in the evening, a grand Kirtan Darbar will be held at Gurdwara Sri Rakab Ganj Sahib, where a large congregation of devotees is expected to participate with devotion and reverence. They said that Hind di Chadar Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji laid down his life in Delhi to protect human rights and religious freedom a sacrifice unmatched in world history. The Ninth Guru was a true symbol of secularism, unity, and universal brotherhood, and his life and philosophy continue to serve as a beacon of light for all humanity.

From November 1 to 18, Light and Sound Shows will be held in all districts of Punjab, depicting the great life and teachings of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Kirtan darbars will also be organized in towns and cities blessed by the Guru’s presence. The core objective of these events is to educate people about the Guru’s philosophy, his life of sacrifice, and the eternal message of peace and humanity that continues to inspire millions across the globe. They said that on November 18, a Kirtan Darbar will be organized at Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir).

They further said that next day, November 19, a Nagar Kirtan will commence from Srinagar, in which hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits will also join the congregation. This Nagar Kirtan will halt at Jammu on November 19, Pathankot on November 20, and Hoshiarpur on November 21, before reaching Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 22. Simultaneously, on November 20, three Nagar Kirtans will start from Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo), Faridkot, and Gurdaspur, and all will culminate together at Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 22. They further elaborated that to mark this historic occasion, the Punjab Government will organize major events at Sri Anandpur Sahib from November 23 to 25.

A special Tent City named “Chakk Nanaki” will be established for the accommodation of thousands of devotees arriving for the commemoration. A Sarv-Dharm Sammelan (Interfaith Conference) will also be held, symbolizing the Guru’s message of harmony and universal faith. The sacred city will further host a special exhibition and a drone show highlighting the life and teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. On November 24, a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha will be convened at Sri Anandpur Sahib, dedicated to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s martyrdom, where eminent personalities will share their thoughts on his philosophy, his supreme sacrifice for human rights, and the preservation of religious freedom.

The series of events, beginning on October 25 at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, will conclude on November 25 at Sri Anandpur Sahib. On this concluding day, statewide blood donation camp will be held, alongside a large-scale plantation drive by the Forest Department under the theme “Sarbat da Bhala Ikkatarta” (Unity for the Welfare of All). It was further informed that for this sacred 350th martyrdom commemoration, spiritual leaders and saints from across the globe have been consulted and have extended their blessings and valuable suggestions.

They further said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government feels truly privileged to have been entrusted with the honor of organizing these historic commemorations during its tenure. They appealed to devotees and Sikh Sangat across India and abroad to participate in these events with full religious fervour, enthusiasm and gaiety. They said that 70 lakh students of the government and private schools of Punjab will be daily apprised about the life, philosophy and sacrifice of Guru sahib in their daily curriculum. They said that prominent dignitaries including President and Prime Minister of India, Chief Ministers of several states, Ambassadors of various countries along with other dignitaries will be invited to these events.

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DIGITAL KRANTI: ₹98-CR PROJECT TO EQUIP GOVT SCHOOLS WITH INTERACTIVE SMART PANELS IN PUNJAB

• Over 8K cutting-edge Interactive Flat Panels to transform education & learning across 3600 Govt Schools, says Harjot Singh Bains

Chandigarh, October 16: Catapulting the traditional education system into the modern digital age in the state, the Punjab Government will install over 8230 cutting-edge Interactive Flat Panels (IFPS) worth Rs 98 crore in the state government schools to make classrooms more engaging, improve conceptual understanding and further enhance learning outcome, announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of School Education, Punjab.

Divulging the details about the landmark project, S. Harjot Singh Bains informed that 3,600 government schools will be equipped with the state-of-the-art Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs). By March 2026, the initiative would transform learning for lakhs of students, introducing dynamic, interactive digital classrooms that replace traditional teaching methods.

Reaffirming the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to provide quality education, S. Harjot Singh Bains stated, “This is a quantum leap towards bridging the digital divide by ensuring equitable, world-class education for every child in Punjab. We are empowering our teachers and preparing our students to become the innovators and leaders of tomorrow. This investment underscores our unwavering commitment to building a future-ready Punjab, where a student in the most remote school has the same access to cutting-edge learning tools as one in an urban school.”

The Education Minister highlighted the profound impact of the digital initiative, noting that it will lead to more engaging & participatory lessons, improved learning outcomes and empowered teachers with innovative pedagogies and more impactful classroom delivery. The ultimate goal is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the 21st century. This step is reflecting the Punjab Government's vision for a future-ready education system in the state.

S. Harjot Singh Bains said that the classrooms will equip with 75-inch multi-touch, high-definition smart panels with integrated computing, built-in speakers, stylus support and pre-loaded interactive learning tools. To ensure the program's long-term success and accountability, a robust support framework has been established. This includes a 5-year comprehensive onsite warranty, a network of local service centres and a sophisticated monitoring system. All devices will be linked to a real-time Management Information System (MIS) for remote tracking of usage and performance, backed by a centralised complaint-resolution dashboard and full insurance coverage against theft, damage and natural calamities, he added.