The Punjab government has officially declared Sri Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, and the Golden Temple corridor in Amritsar as holy cities. With this designation, the sale of alcohol, meat and tobacco will be banned in these areas.
The decision was announced during a special session of the Punjab Assembly, held at Sri Anandpur Sahib to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Government Announces Special Fund
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the holy city status will help preserve the religious and cultural significance of these Sikh centres. He added that a special fund will be created to improve cleanliness, maintenance and conservation efforts at these locations.
The Chief minister noted that Punjab is home to three Sikh takhts, and recognising the areas around them as sacred cities is a historic step for the state.
National Leaders Welcome the Move
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal welcomed the announcement, calling it a long-awaited decision for Sikh communities across the world. He said that once the rules are fully implemented, intoxicants and non-vegetarian products will not be allowed in these spiritual regions.
“Today will be remembered in golden letters in the history of Punjab. “...This decision is not only significant from a spiritual perspective but also extremely important for preserving Punjab’s cultural heritage, history and the faith of future generations.”
“Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Punjab government…,” Kejriwal wrote on X.
आज का दिन पंजाब के इतिहास में स्वर्णाक्षरों में लिखा जाएगा।
नवें पातशाह श्री गुरु तेग बहादुर जी के 350वें शहीदी दिवस के अवसर पर, श्री आनंदपुर साहिब में आयोजित पंजाब विधानसभा के विशेष सत्र में एक ऐतिहासिक प्रस्ताव पारित हुआ, पंजाब में स्थित तीनों तख़्तों की महान परंपरा और आस्था… pic.twitter.com/uyofOHhjBJ
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 24, 2025
Leaders from opposition parties also attended the session. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa urged all political parties to work together to protect Punjab’s cultural identity.
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Historic Assembly Session
This special Assembly session was significant as it was held outside Chandigarh for the first time in the state’s history. The gathering took place at Sri Anandpur Sahib, adding symbolic value to the occasion.
During the event, the state government also announced Rs 50 lakh for the development of Kukeval village, where Guru Tegh Bahadur is believed to have lived for more than nine years.
The government said the new measures are aimed at strengthening the cultural and spiritual heritage associated with Sikh history in Punjab.
