Hyderabad,31 July 2008: The "Guru Manyo Granth Jagriti Yatra", an all India journey to celebrating and commemorating the 300 years (tercentenary) of the installation (consecration) of Sri Guru Granth Sahibji (Guruta Gaddi Diwas) and Parlokgaman (heavenly abode) of tenth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh is attracted a sea of devotees as it passed through the Gurudwara Singh Sahba, Afzalgunj to Central Gurudwara Saheb, Gowliguda on Thursday. People from all walks of life and religions especially Sikhs gathered to welcome the Yatra and have darshan of the handwritten Sikh holy book - Guru Granth Sahibji - and rare weapons of Tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.
The seventh batallion of Mahar Regiment gave Guard of Honour to the Jagriti Yatra at Central Gurudwara Saheb, Gowliguda. It is for the first time that rare 'shastras' (weapons) of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, said to be 300 years old, have been taken out from Hazoor Sahib for display. The Yatra is in city till 1st August 2008.
Devotees were seen queuing up since morning along the Yatra's route to catch a glimpse of the glass-encased carriage with the weapons. The Jagriti Yatra with the huge procession carries with itself the handwritten Sri Guru Granth Sahibji and other relics, along with rare weapons (shastars) used by Guru Gobind Singhji to fight against the oppressors in the country. Especially designed buses are carrying these articles from Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, Nanded informed Reception Committee Chairman Mr. S. Gurucharan Singh Bagga. The Yatra today travelled through various localities such as Gurudwara Guru Singh Sabha, Central Gurudwara Saheb, Gowliguda and went on its way to the main corridors of Jambagh, Koti, Nampally, Lakdikapul, Khairtabad and Punjagutta.
At Punjagutta, a rousing reception was given by the Prabandhak Committee of Gurudwara Saheb, Ameerpet and thousands of devotees. A special aircraft showered flower petals all along the procession. The streets of Ameerpet wore a festive look as devotees welcomed the Yatra by lighting thousands of candles. The yatra halted at Gurudwara Saheb, Ameerpet, where a Mahaan Kirtan Darbar (Mass Congregation) was organised in which reputed Ragi Jathas rendered Shabdh Kirtans. 
The colourful Yatra included 'Kirtani Jathas' rendering Shabh Kirtans all along the route and 'Gatka' (Sikh Martial form) performers displaying extraordinary sword skills. The `palki', which is the centre of all attraction is adorned with orchids and tastefully decorated. It has gold plated tombs on the top and a glass screen through which one could see the weapons of Guru Gobind Singh and the hand written Guru Granth Sahib. Meanwhile, people gathered all along the roads much before the yatra arrived so that they could be part of the celebrations.
While the ladies sangat swept the divine pathway of the Yatra, the men folk formed a human chain to facilitate the smooth progress of the Yatra. About two kilometer long procession of the Yatra, is moving slowly to keep up with the frenzy of the devotees who wish to bow their heads before the palki and make offerings. An endless distribution of `prasad' was on throughout the route and `sewadars' did all they could to welcome the historic yatra.
The yatra has covered more than 150 cities of India across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and now Andhra Pradesh.
