'Gadri Babeyan da Mela' from tomorrow

The three-day 23rd Gadri Babeyan da Mela, dedicated to mark the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru's ill-fated arrival in Vancouver, will commence on Thursday at 10am.

The three-day 23rd Gadri Babeyan da Mela, dedicated to mark the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru's ill-fated arrival in Vancouver, will commence on Thursday at 10am.

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Amolak Singh, convener, said that a special entrance would be designed with posters of Budge Budge Ghat and Komagata Maru and gadrites Gurmukh Singh Lalton (a passenger on Komagata Maru) and Gurdit Singh (who chartered the Japanese ship) along with pictures of other martyrs of the incident.

President of the Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Committee Darbara Singh Dhillon said that Punjabis from Canada, England, America and other countries would join the mela celebrations.

"A few people from abroad whose families were associated with the Komagata Maru incident are also visiting the mela. We will also honour the families of the maryrs," he added.

Intellectuals, writers, farmers, historians, Gadar enthusiasts, among others, would participate in the fair this year in big numbers.

The 'Jhande di rasam' (flag hoisting ceremony) and 'Jhande da geet' (penned by cultural convener of the committee Amolak Singh) would be presented in the form of songs by 100 students on November 1.

Raghbir Kaur, general secretary of the committee, informed that the first day of mela on October 30 would include singing and declamation contest while in the evening documentaries including 'Komagata Maru De Drishya', 'Baba Bharna De Bol', 'Hum Mazdoor Hai (pain of Pakistan and Indian common man and 'Hawa Vich Mombatiyan' would be showed.

"On the second day, a quiz and painting competition will be held while in the evening a 'kavi darbar' will be organised till 7pm. After that till 10pm, theatre groups will perform various plays", she added.