Our aim is to inspire our youth to return to their Sikh roots & wear turbans with pride
Fatehgarh Sahib : On the 2-day ‘Meri Dastaar, Meri Shaan’ Dastaaran Da Langar (turban-tying camp) organized by the Youth Akali Dal (YAD) in the memory of Chotte Sahibzadas, Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, and Mata Gujri Ji concluded here today with great success.
The camp was held to commemorate the martyrdom of the Chotte Sahibzadas, who were martyred at the tender ages of 9 and 6 years respectively, for refusing to renounce their faith. Mata Gujri Ji, the mother of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, also attained martyrdom along with her grandsons. Their bravery and devotion to their Guru and their faith continue to inspire generations of Sikhs around the world.
Photos : Prabhjot Singh Gill
The camp was held at the historic Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, which is a sacred place for Sikhs as it marks the site where the Chotte Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri Ji attained martyrdom. The Gurdwara is a symbol of the sacrifices made by the Sikh Gurus and their families, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for one’s faith and principles.
Over 3000 devotees, including children, women, and youngsters from all walks of life, participated in the camp.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer, President of the Youth Akali Dal, paid a heartfelt tribute to the Chotte Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri Ji, saying, “We bow our heads in reverence to the brave Chotte Sahibzadas, Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, and Mata Gujri Ji, who sacrificed their lives for the sake of their faith. Their martyrdom is a shining example of the bravery and devotion that is at the heart of Sikhism. We will continue to draw inspiration from their sacrifices and strive to promote Sikh values and principles among our youth.”
Talking about the 2-day ‘Dastaran Da Langar’ (Free Turban Tying Camp), Jhinjer said, “Our aim is to inspire our youth to return to their Sikh roots and wear turbans with pride.”
He added, “We are committed to preserving the rich history and heritage of the Sikh community, and we will continue to organize such events to promote Sikh pride and unity.”
“It is also heartening to see our girls and ladies participating in this camp in large numbers and getting turbans tied,” said Jhinjer. “We hope that these girls will also follow the principles of Guru Sahib and stay true to the name Kaur given to them by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.”
“We are also making a conscious effort to encourage our youth to shun caps and wear turbans, especially on religious occasions,” added Jhinjer. “We believe that by educating our youth about the significance of the turban and our rich Sikh history, we can inspire them to come back to their roots and embrace Sikhism with pride.”
Jhinjer also thanked the entire Youth Akali Dal team and the Shiromani Akali Dal district team for their tireless efforts in making the 2-day camp a grand success. “It was a team effort, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of this event,” he said.
The “Meri Dastaar, Meri Shaan” initiative aims to promote Sikh pride, heritage, and unity among the community. The Youth Akali Dal has been consistently organizing such events across Punjab, promoting Sikh identity and community service.
Present on this occasion were Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna, Darbara Singh Guru, Saranjit Singh Chanathal, Manmohan Singh Makaron, Baljit Singh Bhutta, member SGPC Surjit Singh Garhi, Ravinder Singh Khalsa, Avtar Singh Riya, Harpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh Panech, Sarabjit Singh Ladi, Parminder Singh Somal, Gurudwara Sahib Manager Gurdeep Singh Kang, Randeep Singh Dhilwan, Inderjeet Singh Kang, Chitbir Singh Zira, Devashish Malik, Harjot Singh Demru, Ajmer Singh Khera among others.