📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Kuldeepburjbhalaike
Religion
Shabd Kirtan Held on Jalandhar Streets Amid Punjab Bandh, Sikh Groups Criticise
✍️ Amar Ujala · Jalandhar
🗓 21 Aug 2026, 03:38 PM
👁 5
During a statewide bandh in Punjab, a Shabd Kirtan procession took place on the streets of Guru Nanak Mission Chowk in Jalandhar, prompting Sikh organisations to urge citizens to stay home.
During the recent Punjab-wide bandh, a Shabd Kirtan procession was organized on the roads surrounding Guru Nanak Mission Chowk in Jalandhar. The event featured devotional singing and recitation of Sikh scriptures, drawing a crowd of participants who marched through the main thoroughfare.
Sikh organisations present at the scene noted that the bandh had been declared to protest certain political decisions, and they reminded the public that the purpose of a bandh is to keep citizens off the streets. Their statements emphasized that those who chose to attend the Kirtan had disregarded the call for a peaceful shutdown.
The organisers of the Shabd Kirtan defended their decision, saying the gathering was a religious expression and not a political rally. However, they acknowledged the criticism and indicated that future events would be coordinated with the bandh schedule to avoid conflict with public directives.
Local authorities reported no major disturbances, but traffic was temporarily disrupted as the procession moved along the busy junction. Police presence was increased to ensure order and to manage any potential clashes between supporters of the bandh and participants of the Kirtan.
The incident highlights the tension that can arise when religious gatherings coincide with political protests, underscoring the need for clearer communication between community leaders and civil society during statewide shutdowns.
Sikh organisations present at the scene noted that the bandh had been declared to protest certain political decisions, and they reminded the public that the purpose of a bandh is to keep citizens off the streets. Their statements emphasized that those who chose to attend the Kirtan had disregarded the call for a peaceful shutdown.
The organisers of the Shabd Kirtan defended their decision, saying the gathering was a religious expression and not a political rally. However, they acknowledged the criticism and indicated that future events would be coordinated with the bandh schedule to avoid conflict with public directives.
Local authorities reported no major disturbances, but traffic was temporarily disrupted as the procession moved along the busy junction. Police presence was increased to ensure order and to manage any potential clashes between supporters of the bandh and participants of the Kirtan.
The incident highlights the tension that can arise when religious gatherings coincide with political protests, underscoring the need for clearer communication between community leaders and civil society during statewide shutdowns.