Khuralgarh to be developed as pilgimage centre

The memorial at the sacred place will be an architectural marvel

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday said Khuralgarh, a sacred place associated with Guru Ravidass, would be developed as a pilgrimage centre.

He made the announcement while addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of Guru Ravidass memorial here in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and religious preachers.

The Chief Minister said the memorial being built as tribute to Guru Ravidass would act as a “lighthouse” to perpetuate his life and teachings.

He said Guru Ravidass was an exponent of Bhakti movement and a messiah of the poor and downtrodden. He espoused leading a virtuous and noble life, Badal said, adding, his life and philosophy still continues to guide humanity towards an egalitarian society.

The Chief Minister said the memorial would be an architectural marvel which once completed would have a spacious congregation hall which can accommodate ten thousand pilgrims and a state-of-the art auditorium, with a capacity for 500 people, and equipped with audio-visual aids to showcase the Guru’s life and works.

Badal said the hallmark of this memorial would be a tall structure called ‘Minar-e-Begampura’ which would be 151 feet high.

Reaffirming his commitment to the overall development and welfare of the underprivileged sections of the society, the Chief Minister said the SAD-BJP government alone could safeguard their rights.

Enumerating schemes launched by the government for the weaker sections, Badal said other political parties, especially the Congress, “exploited” this section as their votebank but “never bothered” to do anything tangible for their growth and prosperity.

He said the state government has undertaken several projects like Virasat-e-Khalsa, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath, the upcoming Jang-e-Azadi memorial and War Heroes memorial to showcase the contribution of Punjabis to the national freedom struggle and role of brave soldiers in defending the country. Badal said it was the duty of government to preserve cultural heritage of the state to make youth aware about its glorious past and added that nations which forget their cultural legacy were bound to be doomed. In his address, Sukhbir hailed the Chief Minister for strengthening communal harmony and brotherhood in the state besides preserving and promoting brotherhood and bonding among Punjabis.