Ropar, September 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Miri Piri Khalsa March, which began from Sri Akal Takht Sahib, resumed its journey towards Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Sri Anandpur Sahib on Friday after a night halt at Gurdwara Sri Bhattha Sahib in Ropar.
The march, being organised to spread the message of Sikh principles and social reform, departed amid Sikh religious chants and the presence of prominent Sikh personalities, including Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami and senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema.
During a religious gathering, Giani Kawal Singh, a granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib, shared accounts from Sikh history and urged devotees to follow the teachings of Gurmat. After ardas, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema performed the sewa of placing the sacred saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the palki sahib.
Addressing the gathering, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj said the march had so far passed through hundreds of villages, conveying the message of the Guru’s teachings and Sikh traditions. He said interactions with elderly residents in village gatherings had highlighted the extent of drug abuse among Punjab’s youth.
According to him, in many villages, between 10 and 15 young people had fallen prey to drugs. He alleged that the government was not taking adequate action against drug sellers, while those raising their voice against the menace faced government action.
Giani Gargajj said several young people had pledged during the march to return to the Sikh way of life and stay away from drugs. He described this as an achievement of the march and said its objective was to promote Sikh principles and work against social evils.
He also cautioned the Sikh community against what he described as anti-Guru and anti-Panth thinking and called upon Sikhs to remain committed to Sikh principles and Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He thanked the sangat for its strong support to the march.
Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said the Sikh Gurus challenged social discrimination and caste-based divisions by establishing the principles of equality and dignity for all. He said the sixth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib, gave the Sikh community the principle of Miri-Piri and the ideal of the Sant-Sipahi.
Dhami said the Sikh community had consistently worked for the welfare of humanity in accordance with these principles. He said the SGPC had always taken the lead in humanitarian efforts whenever people faced crises.
Referring to the recent floods in Nepal, Dhami said the SGPC was undertaking relief efforts there and had sent a delegation of its members to assist affected people.
He said the Miri Piri Khalsa March was intended to spread the Guru’s message of service to humanity. Despite what he described as attempts by anti-Panth forces to create divisions among Sikhs, he said the reception the march had received from villagers demonstrated the community’s continued commitment to Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The march received enthusiastic welcomes at various stages, with devotees paying their respects. A bus carrying historical weapons associated with the Sikh Gurus, travelling alongside the march, also attracted considerable interest among the sangat.
Among those present were SGPC members Daljit Singh Bhinder, Bibi Harjinder Kaur, Bhai Amarjit Singh Chawla, Ajmer Singh Khera, Paramjit Singh Lakhewal, Baba Boota Singh, Charanjit Singh Kalewal, Dharam Parchar Committee secretary Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, additional secretary Bhagwant Singh Dhanera, Baba Harjit Singh, manager Jasbir Singh, Sarbdayal Singh, Baba Mohan Singh, head granthi Bhai Pavittar Singh, head preacher Bhai Jagdev Singh, in-charge Gurbhag Singh and Gurwinder Singh Mohali, besides a large number of devotees.
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