Thousands of devotees throng Kurukshetra on 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur
Kurukshetra (PTI): Thousands of devotees thronged the sacred town of Kurukshetra on Tuesday to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur, revered as 'Hind di Chadar' for his sacrifice to uphold religious freedom.
The Haryana government, led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, organised the event at Jyotisar village, drawing pilgrims from across the state and neighbouring regions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ceremony and paid homage to the ninth Sikh Guru.
In a notable display of interfaith unity, 350 students from Patiala's Play-Way Senior Secondary School, belonging to Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities, presented soulful Shabad Kirtan for over 30 minutes, reflecting Guru Tegh Bahadur's message of universal brotherhood.
According to an official statement, nearly 4,000 buses were deployed to transport devotees to the venue.
Several gurdwaras and saints arranged 'langar' for lakhs of people, with thousands of 'sewadars' serving meals throughout the day.
Two large 'joda ghars' (footwear centres) with around 70 barricaded lanes were managed by sewadars from Gurudwara Mandi Sahib, sixth Patshahi Gurudwara, and nearby villages.
Security arrangements were supervised by DIG Virendra Vij, with over 5,000 police personnel deployed and traffic diversions enforced.
District Commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena said all arrangements were made under the chief minister's guidance and were appreciated by the devotees.
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TN govt reaffirms 21-yr age limit for liquor sales
Chennai (PTI): Seeking to curb rising alcohol consumption among minors in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has reinforced the legal age requirement of 21 for all liquor purchases and consumption.
The government has also ordered the closure of 717 liquor outlets across the state and warned of strict action against those who violate the new directives.
The state-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), the agency which holds a monopoly on sales of liquor, will be shutting 276 outlets near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions and 255 outlets near bus stations.
A senior TASMAC official on Thursday said that the staff at liquor shops have been instructed to check identity proof, including Aadhaar card, for all customers whose age is in question.
The official also said that the state government is considering a reduction in operational hours.
Currently, the liquor shops across the state operate from 12 noon to 10 pm.
"They are weighing a proposal to move the closing time to 8 pm," he added.
At present, the TASMAC operates a total of 4,765 liquor shops across the state. After the closure of 717 shops, it would come down to 4,048 outlets.
In 2025, the revenue from liquor sales stood at Rs 48,344 crore, which is the second highest after the registration department.
