Braving the cold, numerous devotees gathered at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar and other shrines in the region to mark the beginning of the New Year. At the Golden Temple, devotees lined up from midnight onwards to offer prayers, with long queues forming on Thursday morning as people waited for their turn to enter the ‘Harmandir Sahib’. Some devotees also took a dip in the sacred ‘sarovar’ at the Golden Temple, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to pray at the holy site on the first day of the New Year.
In addition to the Golden Temple, crowds visited the Mata Mansa Devi shrine in Panchkula near Chandigarh to offer prayers. Across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, individuals visited various shrines to observe the New Year. Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria extended warm wishes to the people of Punjab and Chandigarh, emphasizing the importance of collective effort, determination, and dedication in achieving aspirations for the New Year.
Governor Kataria urged people to work together towards a strong, peaceful, and united India, fostering progress and prosperity for the nation. He wished everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan also extended greetings, expressing hopes for the fulfillment of Punjabis’ dreams in 2026 and emphasizing the importance of following the teachings of Guru Sahib. He encouraged regular exercise for a healthy lifestyle.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann extended New Year wishes, praying for happiness and success in people’s lives. Reflecting on the past year, he highlighted his government’s efforts in providing improved healthcare, education, and employment opportunities in Punjab. Mann emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing issues like drugs and corruption, pledging to continue developmental initiatives.
