CHANDIGARH: For the first time in Punjab’s history, the Vidhan Sabha will convene a session outside the state capital Chandigarh. The special sitting will take place in Anandpur Sahib on November 24 , as part of the state government’s programme to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
The announcement was made on Friday by Education Minister Harjot Bains and Deepak Bali, advisor in the state Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department. They said the step would not only mark an important chapter in Punjab’s legislative history but also underline the spiritual and cultural significance of Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of the Khalsa. Bains said the government was in consultation with the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat to finalise arrangements to hold the Assembly session in Anandpur Sahib on November 24,” he told reporters after the meeting.
The decision is part of a larger programme announced by the Aam Aadmi Party government to observe the martyrdom anniversary of the ninth Sikh Guru with a series of religious, cultural and social events spread over nearly two weeks. The commemorative activities will begin on November 18 with five ‘nagar kirtans’ (religious processions) starting from different regions. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will lead the procession from Gurdwara Chathi Patshahi in Srinagar. Simultaneously, processions will begin from Majha, Doaba, Bathinda and Faridkot in Malwa. All the kirtans will converge at Anandpur Sahib on the evening of November 22.Between November 23 and 25, Anandpur Sahib will host a blend of spiritual and intellectual engagements. During the day, seminars will be organised focusing on Guru Tegh Bahadur’s life, teachings and his supreme sacrifice to uphold religious freedom. Evenings will be dedicated to kirtans and devotional gatherings. The government is also adding social and developmental dimensions to the programme, with blood donation camps, tree plantation drives and organ donation campaigns to be launched in Anandpur Sahib. Bains announced that a heritage street project will be taken up in the town, with the foundation stone to be laid by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday.
In anticipation of a large influx of devotees from across Punjab and other states, a sprawling tent city will be set up in Anandpur Sahib from November 19 to 30. Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, was martyred in 1675 in Delhi after he resisted forced religious conversions under Mughal rule. Holding the Assembly in Anandpur Sahib, where his son Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa, ties the legislative institution of Punjab to a key chapter of Sikh and Indian history.
Observers believe the session will also underline the state government’s effort to connect the functioning of democratic institutions with Punjab’s spiritual heritage. By situating the Assembly in a sacred town, the AAP government is sending a message that governance and cultural memory must move hand in hand.
The announcement has been welcomed by religious leaders who attended the preparatory meeting, who described it as an honour to Guru Tegh Bahadur’s memory. Officials said detailed coordination with the district administration and gurdwara committees is already underway to ensure smooth arrangements.
As Punjab moves closer to the 350th martyrdom anniversary on November 24, Anandpur Sahib is set to become the focal point of both remembrance and celebration. The special Vidhan Sabha session will mark a first in legislative tradition, bringing the elected representatives of Punjab to the spiritual heart of Sikh history for a day that promises to blend governance with heritage.
