A large number of devotees on Thursday thronged the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine of the Sikhs, on the first day of the New Year to offer their prayers and seek divine blessings.
Devotees took holy dips in the Sarovar (sacred tanks) and offered prayers for peace, good health and drug free Punjab.
Traditionally, the Sikhs follow the Nanakshahi Calendar which begins in March. However, devotees around the world visit the Golden Temple to celebrate the New Year as per the English era.
Baldev Singh, a devotee, who is also a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), came with his family to the Golden Temple to offer prayers.
“We are here to pay obeisance and offer prayer to the Almighty to save the youth of Punjab from getting in to drug abuse,” he said.
Another devotee, Ranbeer Singh, from Canada, said he felt lucky to be here on the first day of the new year. He said he had offered prayers for the “Sarbat Da Bhala” (well being for all) and wished Punjab to be drug free.
The new year was ushered across the world over with much gusto, with people in India too joining the bandwagon celebrating with fireworks and rejoicing with other fun filled activities.
—-ANI