Sanjay Bumbroo,Tribune News Service,Fatehgarh Sahib, December 26

Thousands of devotees paid obeisance at the historic Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara during the Shaheedi Jor Mela held to mark the 309th martyrdom of the younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh and Mata Gujri.The “Shaheedi Samagam” began with an Akhand Path held by Head Granthi Giani Harpal Singh at Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup. The mela will culminate with the bhog of Akhand Path on December 28.The police have made elaborate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the fair. No vehicular traffic was allowed in the town which has been divided into six sectors. The district administration has banned the setting up of shops on either side of the road from Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup to Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara.The workers of various political parties were making preparations for their conferences on December 27.Meanwhile, the SGPC’s appeal not to sell religious books in the wake of the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib fell on deaf ears with vendors continuing to sell these books to devotees.

‘Shaheedi Jor Mela’ to begin today

Elaborate arrangements have been made for the three-day annual ‘Shaheedi Jor Mela’ to be held here from December 26 where devotees from all over the country and abroad would pay obeisance at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib.

The three-day religious function, to observe the martyrdom of the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, who were “bricked” alive here during the regime of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, would begin with ‘Akhand Path’ of Guru Granth Sahib at Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup on Saturday, officials said.

On December 28 ‘Nager Kirtan’ would be taken from Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib to Gurdwara Jyoti Swaroop, in a decorated Palki Sahib (palanquin).

Devotees from across the country and abroad will come here to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, they said.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the ’Shaheedi Jor Mela’, SSP Jatinder Singh Khaira said, adding police personnel with latest equipment would be deployed to prevent any anti-social activities.

Fatehgarh Sahib Deputy Commissioner, Varun Roojam said that wine shops would remain closed for those three days and anyone found selling intoxicants would not be spared.

Buses will be put on service, for taking senior citizens and ladies free of cost to Gurdwara Sahib from all entry points, he said.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said that the body has been arranging ‘Deewan’, where preachers, ragis, dhadi jathas would present devotional songs and give accounts of Sikh history.

While ‘Jor Mela’ is a religious affair, Roojam said that an exhibition depicting various achievements of the state government in different fields and public oriented schemes initiated would be arranged there.- PTI

Shaheedi Jor Mela:;history

Shaheedi Jor Mela is a mela (fair) organised every year in December at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, in the Fatehgarh Sahib district ofPunjab, India to pay homage to the martyrdom of Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, the youngest sons of the sikh guru Guru Gobind Singh.

Death

Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were imprisoned by the governor of Sirhind Wazir Khan. He offered them treasure and easy lives if they would only convert to Islam, but they refused and stuck their faith in Sikhism. They were entombed alive by being bricked into a wall, but the wall collapsed. On 26 December 1705, they were killed at Sirhind. Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, 5 km (3.1 mi) north of the Sirhind ^[1]marks the site of their live entombment.^[2]

Mela[]

The first day of the Mela is observed purely in religious spirits. Later, political rallies and meetings are held by various political parties. Lakhs of devotes pay their obeisance at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup on this historic occasion every year during this three day Jor Mela.^[3] All nearby villagers organize langar for the devotees going to visit Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib for the Mela along all the roads leading to the gurdwara.

Each year, the district administration would do special arrangements for devotees and people visiting the mela like parking areas, controlling flow of traffic by setting up special barricades and nakas, medical & emergency services and by deploying heavy police force for security. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has been arranging deewan, where the Sikh preachers, ragis, dhadi jathas will present devotional songs and give the accounts of the Sikh history. Although Jor Mela is a religious event, a heavy police force is normally deployed all around the Mela site.^[4]