Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Monday announced several arrangements for the ongoing Hola Mohalla celebrations at Sri Anandpur Sahib, including the setting up of a permanent all-weather tent city.
Addressing reporters, the minister shared a series of new initiatives, including a permanent air-conditioned tent city and the decision to celebrate the festival as a green Hola Mohalla this year. He said the idea of a permanent tent city came after the success of a temporary structure set up last year. Following an inspection by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the government decided to establish the facility permanently in the holy city.
This is a historic moment for Punjab's religious tourism. We are dedicating a permanent, fully air-conditioned tent city to the public today. This facility, the first-of-its-kind in the country, will address the accommodation shortage faced by devotees. It will not only serve pilgrims under the 'Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra' scheme, but also provide a fillip to Sri Anandpur Sahib's tourism potential, offering visitors an experience of a lifetime,” he said.
Reaffirming the AAP government’s focus on protecting the environment, Bains announced that this year’s Hola Mohalla will be celebrated as a ‘green Hola Mohalla’. He said a complete ban has been imposed on single-use plastic during the festival. The Punjab Pollution Control Board will bear the cost of providing biodegradable alternatives at all ‘langar’ establishments.
Bains said since langar serves lakhs of devotees during the festival, environmental concerns have been given priority. “Every plate, cup and utensil used during ‘langar’ will be made of biodegradable and non-plastic material,” he said. He also invited devotees to attend the celebrations with their families and experience the spiritual atmosphere of the historic festival. The holy city of Sri Anandpur Sahib has been decorated and illuminated for the celebrations.
The renovated Panj Piaras Park highlights the Punjab government’s commitment of restoring heritage sites, while the Bhai Jaita Ji Museum and other historic places continue to attract visitors with their exhibits.
To manage the large number of devotees arriving on tractors and trolleys from across the state, the Rupnagar district administration has set up 28 dedicated parking zones. Two specialised trolley cities and separate trolley streets have also been created. These facilities include bathrooms, CCTV surveillance and LED information screens, and have been strategically located to cater to devotees coming from different regions.
Devotees arriving from the Majha and Doaba regions will be directed to the trolley city near Charan Ganga Stadium, while those coming from Malwa and the Chandigarh side will be accommodated at the facility in Jhinjri village.
Bains also stated that 100 e-rickshaw shuttle services will operate during the festival to transport devotees to major religious sites such as Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib and Qila Anandgarh Sahib. He further said the evening sky will be lit up with a grand fireworks display on March 2 and 3 at Virasat-e-Khalsa, adding to the festive atmosphere of Hola Mohalla.
Sharing details about health and security arrangements, Bains said fully equipped ambulances have been stationed at Charan Ganga Stadium and Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib. Aam Aadmi Clinics will also remain operational at every parking zone and major congregation point.
Security has been strengthened with a three-layer barricading system along the main procession route near Charan Ganga Stadium. This will ensure the safety of the ‘sangat’ while also providing enough space for Nihang Singhs to perform their traditional martial displays smoothly.
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