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GURPREET SINGH
ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 1: Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar, who was earlier slated to perform at the Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani religious concert here on April 13 -- the day of the birth of the Khalsa -- has cancelled her visit on medical grounds.
Disclosing this to mediapersons here today, Punjab Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that Lata Mangeshkar would not be able to perform at the concert as part of the tercentenary celebrations. Director, Public Relations, Jagjit Puri, who was also present and is a coordinator of the concert said that Lata had expressed in a fax message her inability to perform at Anandpur Sahib. He added, ``Her doctor has advised her not to visit North India in April, as this might affect her fragile health''.
Interestingly the Akali Dal camp led by Gurcharan Singh Tohra had criticised the Government for extending an invitation to Mangeshkar to sing at the tercentenary celebrations. While Tohra had described it as a violation of Sikh principles, his supporters in the All India SikhStudent Federation (AISSF) had gone a step further by asking Mangeshkar not to perform at Anandpur Sahib.
Asked if these developments were related, Capt Kanwaljit Singh warned those who were creating impediments for the State Government during the tercentenary celebrations. Meanwhile, the city is getting a good scrub and opposite Gurdwara Keshgarh Sahib, a huge 40-feet high pandal already stands on 4.5 acres. Everywhere in the city are signs that the Khalsa tercentenary functions are now just round the corner.
A great part of the celebrations are slated to be held in the pandal a women's conference, the Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani concert, some conventions and the inaugural function on April 8 will all be held here. Financed by the Anandpur Sahib foundation, it is water-proof and the biggest-ever raised, with a capacity of holding 60,000 visitors.
Giving details of the arrangements, Punjab Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the construction and beautification works have been entrusted to thePSIDC.The Anandpur Sahib Urban Development Authority (ASUDA) chief administrator, Vini Mahajan and Puri, who accompanied the Finance Minister, said that details of the proposed fateh march to comprise five different processions from the native cities of Panj Piaras were being finalised. A procession comprising of 101 youngsters and Sikh regimental bands will also pass through the city as part of the celebrations. Vice-President Krishan Kant is expected to participate in this procession, the Minister said.
Giving further details, the Minister said that 8 lakh tents were being raised at 10 different sites in Agampur and Jhinjri villages to accommodate pilgrims. A permanent parking lot on 25 acres of land on the Anandpur-Kiratpur Sahib road had already been completed and so had half a dozen langar sheds for devotees, he added. Makeshift urinals and bathrooms have also been set up at these sites.
Apart from this, an exhibition of Sikh relics and traditional weapons is also being held, he said. These includerelics from various SGPC-affiliated gurdwaras and museums of the Punjab Government. Weapons from the national museum and Pakistan are also being brought here, he said.
A book exhibition-cum-sale displaying books from various universities of the region is also being held. Among the celebrities scheduled to perform on April 13 are Singh Bandhu, Jagjit Singh, Pandit Jasraj, Bhai Lalji and Hemlata. This would be followed by a fireworks and laser display at night.On April 2, former prime minister I K Gujral, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdulah and Himachal Pradesh CM Prem Kumar Dhumal will pay obeisance at Gurdwara Keshgarh Sahib here, the minister announced.
Meanwhile, the 14-room Kisan Bhawan building, which was proposed to accommodate farmers, is ready, but Secretary of the Mandi Board, P S Aujla said that with its lavish arrangements, it was meant exclusively for VVIPs and not ordinary farmers. Justifying the change in plan, he said that there was hardly any reason for farmers to visit thisplace in the absence of any agricultural institution or mandi.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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