Hind-ki-Chadar Grand pandals, langar set to welcome 5 lakh devotees at Nara on December 7

 

 

 

Preparations for the major State-level commemoration of ‘Hind-ki-Chadar Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s 350th Martyrdom Anniversary’ have picked up pace at Suresh Chandra Suri Ground, Nara, where a large-scale arrangement is being assembled by the Government of Maharashtra for the programme on December 7. The event is being positioned as one of the most extensive public observances dedicated to the ninth Sikh Guru, whose resistance to forced conversions and defence of religious freedom remain central to Indian historical memory.

 

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde are scheduled to be present for the programme. Attendance is projected at four to five lakh devotees from Sikh, Sikaligar, Banjara, Labana, Mohyal, Sindhi and other communities across the region. According to Gurmeet Singh Khokhar, Vidarbha President of the programme’s Coordination Committee and President of Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Darbar, the commemorative gathering marks a rare full-scale State-supported observance of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib’s sacrifice, which he underscored as a defining stand taken to shield Hindu communities from foreign persecution. He described the event as unprecedented in scale for Vidarbha.

 

A large, covered pandal housing a stage and around 40,000 seats is under construction at the venue. Multiple adjoining pandals will host the langar, where all attendees will be served meals throughout the programme. An exhibition illustrating the life, principles and teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib is being prepared to provide visitors with structured historical interpretation. Jootaghars will be placed near entry points for devotees to deposit footwear, and the organisers have committed to adequate drinking-water points, sanitation facilities and parking arrangements. Given the anticipated footfall, the committee plans to implement traffic restrictions by halting vehicles roughly 500 metres from the ground.

 

E-rickshaws will be deployed to transport elderly attendees and others requiring assistance. Khokhar emphasised that Nagpur has a longstanding record of communal harmony and of integrating the cultural identities of people from neighbouring regions. He stated that the event’s scale and inclusive organisation reflect the city’s established ethos. He urged citizens from all communities to participate, arguing that the anniversary commemorates values that transcend regional and religious identities.