Patiala November 14- Jathedar Akal Takhat Sahib Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh Khalsa has declared that birthday of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh would be celebrated as World Gatka day on November 28 every year to promote the Sikh martial art gatka as a household game in the diaspora for self-defence.
Announcing this as a chief guest on the occasion of prize distribution ceremony of first state level Akal Gatka cup-2012 held at Patiala he disclosed that this historic decision was taken in five Singh Sahibs (high priests) meeting held at Akal Takhat recently so that the youth energy could be channelized towards the self-defence sport by weaning them away from the prevalent menace of drug abuse and other intoxicants to enable them to stay healthy and agile.
Jathedar further said that the Gatka was generally at public display during religious processions only but Gatka Federation of India has taken bold initiatives to revive and promote this rare art as a sport in the India and diaspora by organising "Virsa Sambhal" Gatka competitions to perpetuate the rich legacy of age-old martial art Gatka amongst the future generations on one hand and to revive this dying art on the other. He asked the Punjab Government that it must promote Gatka like Kabbadi game in the country and provide financial aid to the Gatka Federations promoting this game at national and international level.
Speaking on the occasion Singh Sahib Ginai Balwant Singh Nandgarh Jathedar Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib advised the youth especially young girls to adopt Gatka as a game so that they could protect themselves. He said that Gatka inculcates sportsmanship, promotes physical fitness and positive social interaction. Adding further he said that this traditional martial art would also imbibe spirit of religion, values of Gurbani and ethos of our rich culture amongst youth to lead a disciplined and pious life.
Inaugurating the Gatka tournament Sant Ranjit Singh Dhadrian lauded the efforts of Gatka Federation in rejuvenating the traditional martial art having a historical significance and said that if otherwise, it might happen that the next generation would totally be unaware of Gatka. He declared that he would host a Gatka cup annually at Gurdawara Parmeshar Dwar, Sekhupura Patiala. He solicited that the Punjab Government must award due gradation to Gatka sport at par with other games at the earliest.
On the occasion President Asian Gatka Federation and businessman from Dubai Mr. S.P Singh Oberoi said that Gatka Federations has been constituted in 32 countries and Asian Gatka Cup-2013 would be hosted during January 2013 in Dubai. President Gatka Federation of India Mr. Harcharn Singh Bhullar disclosed that Federation has formulated and standardized in-depth rules and regulations for playing of Gatka game and providing training to the budding Gatkebaaz through workshops, seminars and camps under the new Gatka rules. General Secretary Mr Harjeet Singh Grewal said that the Gatka organizations have dream and vision to exhibit and include this game in the Olympics with a systematized approach and spectacular manner. Among others Mr Gurprit Singh Gill SSP Patiala, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar former president SGPC, Sant Bhupinder Singh, Head Granthi Giani Ranjit Singh Delhi, Baba Manmohan Singh Baran, former Minister Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, Dr Balkar Singh, Dr Jasvir Kaur, Dr Gurmeet Singh Sidhu, Dr Sarbjinder Singh, Dr Baljit Singh Sidhu (all Punjabi University Patiala) also spoke on the occasion.
It is informed that the present martial art form, Gatka, is a style of fighting only with sticks between two Gatka or more players, intended to simulate the sword and focuses on infusing physical, spiritual and mental fitness. The present form of martial art Gatka has been acknowledged as a sport and being played across the country & diaspora.
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