Source The Tribune
ANANDPUR SAHIB, PUNJAB — The Punjab Assembly, convened in a historic special session here on Monday, unanimously passed a resolution declaring Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, and the Walled City of Amritsar as ‘Holy Cities.’ The landmark decision, moved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, immediately imposes a complete ban on the sale and consumption of liquor, meat, and tobacco in these designated areas.
The special session, held outside the capital Chandigarh to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, marks a significant fulfillment of a long-standing public demand for granting sacred status to these pivotal sites of Sikh faith.
Preserving Cultural Heritage
The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of the resolution, stating that these places are not merely religious centers but are “symbols of our civilisational heritage.” He emphasized that declaring them Holy Cities is an “essential step toward the preservation and global promotion of our cultural heritage.”
The three locations hold immense spiritual significance as they encompass three of the five Takhts (temporal seats of authority for Sikhs):
Anandpur Sahib: Home to Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib.
Talwandi Sabo (Damdama Sahib): Home to Takht Sri Damdama Sahib.
Amritsar Walled City (containing the Golden Temple’s Galiara/precinct): Home to Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Development and Interfaith Initiatives
In addition to the moral and spiritual mandates, the government has committed to holistic development, cleanliness, security, and the promotion of religious tourism in the newly declared Holy Cities. Chief Minister Mann announced that the state government would allocate the necessary budget and also seek financial assistance from the Central Government for this purpose.
The resolution also paves the way for the formation of an interfaith committee (Sarv Dharam Committee) in each of the three towns, comprising representatives from all faiths, to oversee matters related to religious institutions.
The special assembly session in Anandpur Sahib was part of a three-day series of events organized by the Punjab government to pay tribute to the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.
