Punjab Govt Declares Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo & Galiara Around Golden Temple as Holy Cities

In a historic move, the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution declaring three key Sikh religious sites—Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, and the Galiara surrounding the Golden Temple—as holy cities. Convened at Anandpur Sahib for the first time ever, the special session commemorated the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, highlighting his legacy of religious freedom, sacrifice, and human dignity.

Declaration of Holy Cities

The Punjab Assembly unanimously approved the resolution to designate,

• Anandpur Sahib (Rupnagar district)
• Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda)
• Galiara around Golden Temple (Amritsar)

as holy cities of Punjab.

Ban on Certain Items

The resolution mandates a complete ban on,

• Liquor
• Meat
• Tobacco products

This aims to preserve spiritual sanctity and cultural heritage.

2. Special Session at Anandpur Sahib

This was the first-ever Punjab Vidhan Sabha session held outside Chandigarh.

Purpose of the Session

• Commemorate Guru Tegh Bahadur’s 350th martyrdom anniversary
• Pay tribute to the ninth Sikh Guru at Bhai Jaita Ji Memorial Park
• Reflect on his teachings of tolerance, harmony and human rights
• Key leaders such as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal were present.

3. Resolutions Honouring Guru Tegh Bahadur

Another resolution acknowledged the profound contributions of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Key Points of the Resolution

• Recognizing the Guru’s supreme sacrifice for protecting religious freedom
• Promoting values of secularism, peace, and universal brotherhood
• Encouraging public institutions to teach Guru Tegh Bahadur’s history
• Commending the government for organising state-wide commemorative events

Commemoration Activities Included

• Nagar Kirtans
• Kirtan Darbars
• Light and sound shows
• Drone shows
• Interfaith conference (Sarv Dharam Sammelan)