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Procession taken out on birth anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev
by Ravinder Singh Robin

     Amritsar: Thousands of Sikh devotees participated in a religious procession on Friday to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth master of the Sikhs. The religious procession was carried out from Akal Takht Sahib and included students of various schools besides devotees. It concluded after being taken around the city, it concluded at the same place in the evening. Guru Arjan dev was the fifth Sikh Guru and the first Sikh martyr. He gave away his life for the pride of Sikh people. During the procession, various Orchestra Bands and the Gatka teams displayed their art. The procession was led by Panj Pyara (or the five beloved) and followed by Sri Guru Granth sahib, which was carried in the golden palanquin, and further followed by the devotees who kept chanting hymns in the meanwhile. The Guru Arjan Dev laid the foundation of the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar. He also designed the four doors in a Gurdwara, proclaiming that "My faith is for the people of all castes and all creeds from whichever direction they come and to whichever direction they bow." so declared that all Sikhs should donate a tenth of their earnings to charity. The greatest contribution the Guru made to the Sikh faith was to compile all of the past Gurus' writings into one book, now the holy scripture: the Guru Granth Sahib. It was this holy book that made him a martyr.
-May 1, 2009