Guru Gobind Singh Marg
Guru Gobind Singh Marg a highway named after the great Guru is an all-weather metalled road. It connects all the 91 sacred shrines with which Guru’s name is eternally associated. This marg blessed by the sacred touch of Guru Gobind Singh and his saint soldiers during their memorable and eventful journey’ of 47 days from Anandpur Sahib to Talwandi Sabo has got significant place in the history of Punjab. On this highway measuring about 640 km, 20 Dashmesh pillars, with the inscription of the holy and sacred verses of the great Guru have been installed.
Prominent Gurdwaras connected by this highway are Anandpur Sahib, Parwar Vichhora, Bhatha Sahib, Chamkaur Sahib, Machhiwara, Alamgir Sahib, Dina Kangar, Gangsar, Jaitu, Muktsar and Talwandi Sabo.
Guru Gobind Singh Marg, is both an idea and a reality. Starting from Anandpur Sahib the City of Bliss, it traverses hundreds of miles and scores of places that still resound with echoes of the blessed footfalls. It is the highway of eternity, spanning events and epiphanies. Here is the confluence of divine music and earthly symphonies.
It was at Anandpur Sahib where Guru Gobind Singh spent nearly three quarters of his life that ran to 42 years. Here he initiated a great and sustained struggle against all kinds of oppression. Here too he wrote great verses embodying mystic visions and ethical values. And here he fashioned the Sikh Panth and made it an instrument of his power and will. Pressed by the countless troops of the enemy, Guruji was obliged to leave Anandpur Sahib in 1705 A.D. for the south. His sojourn in southeast Punjab add up to a drama of rare exploits and deeds. The battle of Chamkaur and Muktsar bear ample testimony. At Chamkaur fell the Guru’s two elder sons and many devoted followers. At Machhiwara a noble Muslim family came to the aid of the Guru and received his blessings. This episode alone, should suffice to show that the brotherhood of man was his avowed objective and message.
At Muktsar out of generous heart, he welcomed, back to his fold, even those who had earlier repudiated him There was indeed no limit to his generosity and love. While at Dma Kangar he addressed a poetic Epistle of Victory (Zafarnama) to Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. He told the proud monarch how he had betrayed, the trust reposed in him and flouted a~ canons of decency in public life. No rules he formed, would survive, without involvement of pieties and values of life.
On April 10, 1973, Guru Gobind Singh Marg, was inaugurated amidst great rejoicing and fanfare. A mighty pilgrimage was hoisted on wheels and according to official estimate, about 25 lakh men and women formed part of the concourse enroute. In all likelihood, this is a perhaps the biggest. assemblege of its kind in human history. The way all communities thronged to Anandpur Sahib in the thousands, reminded one of similar scene of communal harmony and fraternity during Guru’s life time.
The procession on this 640 Km Marg was nearly 21 Km long. The entire route was tastefully decorated by the people living in the villages and towns around. Thousands flocked continually at focal points to see the mounted procession. Tea and refreshments were served in a spirit of joyous participation A noteworthy fact of this pilgrimage was its catholic and representative character. People drawn from all walks of life, professing diverse faiths and political views joined this mighty cavalcade. Thus Guru Gobind Singh Marg, stands for us today a way of life symbolising virtues and values of Sikhism