The 22-lakh strong Bhagat community in the state, observing the 500th year of salvation of Kabir this year, is all set to celebrate the birth anniversary of the saint-poet on June 28.
Prabhat pheris, religious programmes and seminars for the same have already been started by the community in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Amritsar districts.
The Kabir Panthis are, however, upset as the state government has not yet declared the day as a public holiday. “For 10 years, this day used to be a holiday as per the state government calendar, but not this time. This year is rather more important for us as we consider 1518 as the salvation year of Kabir. We held month-long dharna in front of the administrative complex here in January raising this demand, but to no avail”, said Mahinder Bhagat, a BJP leader.
He said: “Despite a huge strength, our community does not get enough prominence in Punjab. The state government allotted 1-acre site for setting up Guru Ravidass Bhawan and another chunk for establishing Valmiki Bhawan in Jalandhar, but our demand to get a plot in the city for Kabir Bhawan remains unheard.”
The community, also called Megh Biradari, had their origin from Sialkot, Lahore and J&K. Earlier engaged in weaving clothes, they are now largely involved in sports goods manufacturing and rubber industry. There are about 20 Kabir temples in Jalandhar, with Bhargo Camp being their biggest settlement area. Likewise, there is Jawahar Camp in Ludhiana, besides other such refugee camps in Batala and Amritsar too, said Rajesh Bhagat, who is Mahant, Punjab Moolgaddi Kashi.
The mahant, who has been a government officer and hails from Jalandhar, has been promoting a book on Panchshati Panch Pariyojna that relates to five projects, including a 500-bed hospital, an 80-acre Kabir Ashram, a museum and an educational institute, all coming up in Varanasi. Handing over a copy of this book to the Chief Minister recently, he had demanded that since the 500 years of Kabir salvation was being celebrated, a community centre after Saint Kabir be set up in Punjab.
He is scheduled to take out a foot march in Jalandhar on June 24 ahead of the Kabir Jayanti function. “We want the Chief Minister to be here on June 28, but we have been told that he will be in Israel that time,” he said.
Source Tribune India
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