Introduction
Patiala's sway over the Malwa area extended
beyond merely political influence. Patiala was equally the set of
religious and cultural life. Educationally, Patiala was in the forefront.
Patiala was the first town in this part of the country to have Degree
Collage-the Mohindra College-in 1870. The famous printing of Munshi Nawal
Kishore was also established here in the seventies of the 19th century.
Patiala has had a culture of its own, evolving into a distinct "patialavi"
culture. Patiala has also seen evolution of a distinct style of
architecture. Borrowing from the Rajput Style, its beauty and elegance
are, however, moulded according to the local coloring.
Indian Prime Minster Atal Behari Vajpayee (C) joins
hands with leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal, a Sikh political party, Parkash
Singh Badal (R) and Kanwaljeet Singh during an election campaign rally in
the northern Indian city of Patiala March 18, 2004. The national elections
in India in which more than 675 million people are eligible to vote will
be held in five stages starting April 20 and according to early opinion
polls Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Hindu nationalist-led coalition
is expected to win easily.
picture source: http://patialvi.com
With the active patronage of the erstwhile rules
of Patiala, a well established style of Hindustani music called ‘the
Patiala Gharana’ came into existence and has held its own up to the
present times. This school of music has had a number of famous musicians,
many of whom came to Patiala after the disintegration of the Mughal Court
at Delhi in the 18th century. At the turn of the century, Ustad
Ali Bux was the most renowned exponent of this Gharana. Later his sons,
Ustad Akhtar Hussain Khan and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan achieved world
wide fame and brought glory to the Patiala Gharana. This school of music
continues to get the patronage of the State though the North-Zone Culture
Centre, established at Patiala.
Punjab Today Foundation, a Patiala based NGO in
association with Akal Purkh ki Fauj, organised a Qaumi Dastarbandi Samagam
on October 22, 2005 from 7 pm to 10 pm at Gurdwara Sahib Moti Bagh,
Patiala. In this function a collective ceremony of Turban Tying (Dastar-Bandhi)
for 31 young Sikh boys was performed by Jathedar Sahiban of Holy Takhts
and other prominent personalities and Sikh dignitaries. Participating
children were honoured with mementos and Saropas.
According to Kanwar Manjit Singh, C.E.O. Punjab Today Foundation a turban
tying competition was also organised on the same day at 4 pm in which
about 250 Sikh students from different schools/colleges in three age
groups participated. In Group A Maninder Singh, Gagandeep Singh and
Harveer Singh bagged the first, second and third positions while from
group B Arvinder Singh, Fateh Singh and Harmanpreet Singh and in Group C
Jashanbir Singh, Hargunpreet Singh and Baljinder Singh were annpunced the
first, second and third winner respectively.
Mr. Brahm Mohindra, Chairman, organising committee informed that winners
were given cash prizes of Rs. 1101, 751 and 501 and mementos. This
competition was adjudged by a 5 member committee comprising S. Gurbachan
Singh, S. Harnek Singh, Prof. Bhupinder Singh, Prof. Baljinder Singh and
S. Harjit Singh.
Later in benign presence of Guru Granth sahib the collective turban tying
ceremony was performed by Giani Tarlochan Singh, Jathedar, Takht Sri
Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Jaswinder Singh, Granthi, Darbar Sahib, Prof. Manjit
Singh, former Jathedar, Akal Takht, Giani Sukhdev Singh, Head Granthi,
Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib and S. Shawinder Singh Sabharwal, Member, SGPC.
S. Jaswinder Singh Advocate, Member SGPC and Co-ordinator Akal Purkh ki
Fauj conducted the stage. Earlier kirtan was performed by the Jatha of
Bhai Jasbir Singh Khannewale.
picture source: http://patialvi.com
Children of Modern Senior Secondary School in a light
mood on the school's annual day celebrations at Patiala on Wednesday.
picture source: http://patialvi.com
)
)
)