Hisar: A special flight service from Hisar’s Maharaja Agrasen Airport to Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, was inaugurated on Sunday, with the first flight departing around 3.45 pm carrying 61 pilgrims. The service was launched to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib.For the inaugural flight, the Haryana govt provided a 60% subsidy on ticket fares, while the remaining cost was borne by the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGPC). All 61 Sikh pilgrims on the maiden flight were from Kurukshetra.The pilgrims were welcomed at Hisar Airport, where a programme was organised to mark the occasion. Jagdish Singh Jhinda, founder and leader of the HSGPC, presided over the event. A recorded message from chief minister Nayab Singh Saini was played during the programme. Members of the Sikh community welcomed the initiative and demanded that the flight be operated at least three days a week.Speaking on the occasion, Jhinda termed the launch of the service a historic moment and expressed gratitude to the CM and the minister for aviation for accepting the long-standing demand of the Sikh community. He said the journey to Nanded Sahib by road or rail took nearly three days, and the introduction of this direct air service from Hisar would largely benefit pilgrims. Jhinda said the actual ticket fare for the Hisar–Nanded Sahib flight is around Rs 19,000, but due to the 60% subsidy provided by the state govt, pilgrims were able to travel at a significantly reduced cost. He added that transportation of devotees from Kurukshetra to Hisar was arranged by the HSGPC, while the expenses were borne by the ‘Sangat’. Takht Sachkhand Shri Hazur Sahib, located in Nanded, is one of the five Takhts of Sikhism and holds immense religious and historical significance. It is the sacred place where the 10th Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh, attained martyrdom in 1708. The shrine is a major Sikh pilgrimage centre in South India and is often referred to as the “Kashi of the South” for its spiritual importance. Caption of photo: Pilgrims in flight MSID:: 127473532 413 |
