Thousands of devotees participated from all over the state in the Nagar Kirtan (religious procession), carried out to mark the 401 years of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib in the Golden Temple here.

The Nagar Kirtan, which was started after an ardas at Ramsar Sahib Gurdwara, was led by Panj Piaras (five beloved ones). The procession marched towards the Golden Temple with the holy book Sri Guru Granth Sahib carried in a golden palanquin. It passed through various bazaars of the walled city, including Ramsar Road, Chowk Krori, Chowk Baba Sahib and Baba Atal Gurdwara, which were decorated with flowers.

Ramsar Sahib Gurdwara is the place where the fifth Sikh master, Sri Guru Arjan Dev, compiled the holy scripture 401 years ago. The guru also got a sarovar built in the compound of the gurdwara in the name of his father, Guru Ram Das. This is the place where the fifth Sikh Guru wrote Sukhmani Sahib.

During the Nagar Kirtan, the devotees had lined up on either side of the road from early morning to pay obeisance. They raised slogans of “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal�. Giani Gurbachan Singh, Head Granthi, Harmandar Sahib, performed the seva of chaur. The devotees showered flowers petals and perfume on the palanquin.

Various shabdi jathas, religious sabha societies and organisations participated in the procession. Earlier, a Gurmat Divan was organised at Ramsar Sahib Gurdwara where ragis, dhadies, kavishari jathas and katha vachaks sung the hymns from Guru Granth Sahib. The historic and precious Jalau and other rare artifacts were displayed in the Golden Temple.

At night the Golden Temple was beautifully decorated. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) had arranged gurmat samagams, which continued till September 4. Various ragis and kirtani jathas performed at Ramsar Sahib Gurdwara.