28102026-ATR-01.qxd 27-10-2026 23:29 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 28°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 15°C ROAD IN DISREPAIR FOR YEARS, COMMUTERS BEAR THE BRUNT CHABAL: A VILLAGE KNOWN FOR REVOLUTIONARY LEGACY AHEAD OF INDIA AURA TOUR, DOSANJH VISITS TAJ MAHAL The condition of Bugha Road in Tarn Taran has been deteriorating for the past 14 years. P2 Chabal is a prominent village in Tarn Taran district and occupies a strategic location. P3 Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh shared an adorable video capturing glimpses of his visit to Taj Mahal in Agra. P4 » » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.45 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6.44 AM WEDNESDAY | 28 OCTOBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Lakhs throng Golden Temple on Parkash Purb of Guru Ram Das Devotees listen to Gurbani kirtan; historic artefacts displayed Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 27 Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad paid obeisance at the Golden Temple on the Parkash Purb of Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru and founder of Amritsar. The city was immersed in a spiritual atmosphere as devotees gathered at the Golden Temple to listen to Gurbani kirtan and offer prayers. Elaborate jalaus (displays of sacred artefacts) were arranged at the Golden Temple, Akal Takht and Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib, attracting devotees throughout the day. Historic artefacts were displayed inside the Golden Temple, allowing devotees to witness and pay their respects to the Sikh community’s religious heritage. The main religious programme was held at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, where the bhog of an akhand path was performed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Prominent ragis, dhadis and kavishri jathas rendered religious compositions and narrated Sikh history to the congregation. Addressing the devotees, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the shrine established by Guru Ram Das had become a spiritual centre for humanity, welcoming peo- (Top) Devotees at the Golden Temple in Amritsar; and a man holding a child takes a dip in the sarovar. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR ple from across the world without discrimination. He said the life and teach- ings of Guru Ram Das continued to guide humanity and urged devotees to follow the Guru’s teachings and remain committed to Gurbani and Sikh traditions. Earlier, Sikh preacher Pinderpal Singh shed light on the life and contributions of Guru Ram Das. A kavi darbar was also organised at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, where poets recited compositions highlighting the Guru’s life and contributions to the Sikh faith. A special raag darbar and partaal kirtan programme was held on Sunday night, during which renowned ragis performed Gurbani composed by Guru Ram Das in traditional musical styles. The SGPC and various religious organisations made elaborate arrangements for langar to serve devotees visiting the shrine. Ramdaspur to Amritsar: A city shaped by Guru’s vision 3 arrested with imported pistols, magazines 449 years on, historic bazaars keep city’s past alive Tribune News Service Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 27 Guru Ram Das’ vision continues to shape Amritsar’s identity, 449 years after he laid the foundation of the city. From its historic streets and traditional markets to its old neighbourhoods, Amritsar still carries the imprint of the city founded by the Guru. Known initially as Ramdaspur, the city grew around the sacred sarovarthat became the centre of the Sikh faith. While modern buildings and changing lifestyles have transformed its appearance, much of the old city’s character remains visible in its narrow lanes, traditional markets and historic localities. Guru Ram Das founded the city in the late 16th century, laying the groundwork for what would become one of Sikhism’s most important religious centres. The work was further developed under the guidance of the fifth Sikh master, Guru Arjan Dev, who helped shape the settlement into a prominent spiritual and commercial centre after 1581. The old walled city, spread over around 3.5 square kilometres, developed into a network of narrow streets, neighbourhoods known as katras and busy markets. Many of these localities were named after the occupations and communities that lived and worked there, preserving glimpses of the city’s social and economic history. Guru Bazaar, one of the old neighbourhoods, is associated with traditional gold orna- An old market near the Golden Temple in Amritsar. ments. Chowk Passian is associated with the ornament called passa, worn by women on their heads. The layout of the old city also reflects its traditional character. Narrow lanes often open into courtyards and small open spaces, some with trees, providing relief from the closely packed houses and shops. This pattern, which developed over centuries, remains an important part of Amritsar’s architectural heritage. Faced repeated invasions However, the city’s journey was not without destruction. Between 1628 and 1765, repeated invasions damaged many of its original structures. The city gradually rebuilt itself, with Sikh misls contributing to the construction of new neighbourhoods, forts, gardens, havelis and bungas, which provided accommodation for pilgrims. Its traditional markets also grew with the city. Ghee Mandi, Gur Mandi and Gha Mandi are among the names that recall the commercial activities that once defined different parts of Amritsar. During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a fortified wall with 12 gates was built around the city in 1825. The wall, accompanied by double moats, formed part of the city’s defence system. Under British rule, the old fortifications were later demolished or altered as Amritsar developed into an administrative and commercial centre. The city’s transformation continued after it became a district headquarters in 1849 and a municipal corporation in 1868. Yet, despite these changes, its historic core continued to reflect the foundations laid during the time of Guru Ram Das and the development that followed under Guru Arjan Dev. Pawan K Jaiswar Amritsar, October 27 The Counter Intelligence wing of the Amritsar police has arrested three persons and seized 10 foreign-made .30-bore pistols, along with magazines, in a crackdown on a cross-border arms smuggling network. The accused have been identified as Daljit Singh and Gurjant Singh, both residents of Singhoke village, and Arshdeep Singh of Nisoke village in Amritsar district. The police also impounded the motorcycle used to transport the weapons. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations had revealed that the accused were in contact with a foreign-based handler and used encrypted communication platforms to evade the police. The weapons were allegedly meant to be supplied to criminal elements through an organised network. According to the DGP the , CI team received specific intelligence that the accused had collected a consignment of weapons dropped by a drone in the Ramdas sector. They were travelling towards the Verka bypass on a black motorcycle to deliver the weapons to another party. Acting on the input, the police intercepted the trio near the Fatehgarh Shukarchak underbridge on the Verka bypass and recovered 10 pistols along with magazines. TurbanedcyclistpedalsforSikh Aujla writes to Vaishnaw, seeks Two gangsters arrested values,asksyouthtoshundrugs direct Amritsar-Dhule rail link after exchange of fire Expedition covers historic shrines across Amritsar, Tarn Taran Tribune News Service NEWSMAKER Amritsar, October 27 Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla has written to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking a direct train from the city to Dhule in Maharashtra. Aujla called for an early assessment of the proposal, including technical and economic feasibility studies and the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR). Dhule falls on the Maharashtra’s border with Gujarat and Madhya OF THE WEEK Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 27 A group of 25 turbaned cyclists belonging to The Turbanator cycling group inspired youngsters to embrace Sikh values and shun drugs as they concluded their five-day expedition to Sikh historical sites across Amritsar and Tarn Taran. Among the group members was Sukhminder Singh, 57, who joined the group, founded by Delhibased Jagdeep Singh Puri, in 2018. An executive engineer with the Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Sukhminder, along with 15 others from the region, joined nine cyclists who arrived here on October 22 after three days of pedalling all the way from Delhi. On October 23, all of them set out from Amritsar on their individual cycles to pay obeisance at historic Sikh shrines in Tarn Taran, Goindwal Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi and Khadoor Sahib before concluding their religious expedition in Amritsar. Last year, he undertook a 270-km cycling expedition from Amritsar to Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib via Tanda and Nangal. To mark the 350th Shaheedi Shatabdi of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, he, along with two other cyclists, Sukhdev Dhule falls on Maharashtra’s border with Gujarat, MP Pradesh. ‘Crucial for biz, pilgrims’ Aujla said the direct train could ease long-distance travel for pilgrims, students, patients and businessmen while strengthening connectivity between Punjab and western India. “The Golden Temple draws devotees from across India and abroad, while the city (Amritsar) also serves as a key point of departure for people travelling from Punjab to other parts of the country,” he said. “At present, due to the absence of a direct long-distance train between Amritsar and Dhule, passengers rely on connecting services or travel by road to access railway stations with suitable onwards connections. A direct service could make the journey more convenient for pilgrims visiting Amritsar, including those travelling from Maharashtra and neighbouring areas,” he added. Gurbaxpuri Tarn Taran, October 27 A gangster was injured in an exchange of fire with the police at Dhun Dhae Wala village in Chohla Sahib. The injured gangster has been identified as Vishwas, a resident of Burj Deva Singh village. Involved in 3 firing cases According to the police, he is allegedly involved in at least three incidents of firing for extortion in Goindwal Sahib. The police have arrested him along with his associate, Gurjashan Singh, a resident of Baba Jiwan Singh Street near Maraha Gurdwara. The police recovered a pistol, two live cartridges and a motorcycle from them. The police said they had spotted the accused riding a motorcycle without a number plate. When the police tried to apprehend them, Vishwas allegedly opened fire. The police retaliated in selfdefence, during which Vishwas sustained a gunshot injury to his leg. He has been admitted to a hospital for treatment. Sukhminder Singh rides a bicycle. Singh Gill and Jagbir Singh Cheema, undertook a cycling expedition from Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal in the holy city to Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi. He was also part of the Miri-Piri ride conducted in the Kashmir valley in April 2025. During the mountainous cycling expedition, the group visited Gurdwara Parampila in Uri, Gurdwara Baramulla and a gurdwara in Srinagar. In addition, he is part of a group that organises cycling rides to historic sites such as Jallianwala Bagh and the Attari border on April 13 and August 15, respectively, to promote a message of integration. A resident of Rani Ka Bagh, Sukhminder played badminton for 24 years before joining the cycling group. He represented Pun- jab at the National Officers’ Games in Gandhinagar in 2016. He is the chairman of the Diploma Engineering Association and president of the Water Supply and Sanitation Diploma Engineers Association of Punjab. The Turbanators — The Pedalers group was founded on April 13, 2016, by Jagdeep Singh Puri, a graphic designer, and Amarpreet Singh, an aeronautical engineer. The group was established with the mission of promoting fitness and Sikh identity within the community by serving as role models. Its aim is to encourage youngsters to embrace fitness through cycling and raise awareness about the importance, value and pride associated with the turban, a precious gift from Guru Sahib. Sikhya Kranti faces test in Amritsar, Tarn Taran dists Majority of senior secondary schools without principals; Ajnala block worst affected Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar/Tarn Taran, Oct 27 Amritsar and Tarn Taran are among the worst-affected districts, with a large number of government senior secondary schools functioning without a principal. Vacancies exceed 55 per cent in Amritsar and 75 per cent in Tarn Taran, according to the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF). This comes as the Punjab Government started the second leg of its week-long Sikhya Kranti initiative on Tuesday. The initiative aims to transform government schools and improve the quality of education across the state. The DTF said 1,153 of the 1,927 sanctioned posts of prin- c m y b The state government on Tuesday initiated the second leg of the Sikhya Kranti initiative. cipals in Punjab’s senior secondary schools were vacant. The shortage is acute in several districts, including Tarn Taran, where more than 75 per cent of schools are functioning without a principal. According to the figures, 60 of the 77 senior secondary schools in Tarn Taran lack a principal. In Amritsar, 77 of the 119 sanctioned principal posts (65 per cent) are vacant. While 29 posts are occupied by regular principals, 23 are being managed by teachers holding additional charge. Vacancies have been reported in 13 of the 15 education blocks in Amritsar. The worsthit is Ajnala-2, which is among nine education blocks in Punjab that had no regular principal in any government senior secondary school till last year. “Principals are responsible for coordinating teaching, supervising staff, monitoring students’ academic progress and ensuring that government schemes are implemented effectively. When these responsibilities fall on acting heads or other staff members in addition to their regular duties, the burden can affect the functioning of the institution,” said Ajaypal Singh, a schoolteacher in Tarn Taran. Local DTF members have also raised concerns about the shortage of principals. The DTF has criticised the government for promoting its education agenda while leaving a large number of leadership posts vacant. The organisation’s state president, Digvijaypal Sharma, and state secretary, Resham Singh Khemuana, said they had repeatedly approached the office of the Director of School Education, seeking the immediate promotion of eligible teachers to principal posts.