Chandigarh, Nov. 3 -- In a vivid display of religio-political one-upmanship, Sikh religious organisations and the governments of Punjab and Haryana are holding multiple religious processions (nagar kirtans) to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh master, Guru Teg Bahadur, which falls on November 25.

Top political and religious figures - including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, his Haryana counterpart Nayab Singh Saini, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab's former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, and heads of key Sikh bodies - are expected to participate in different processions being organised throughout November.

Multiple processions, divergent agendas

The Shirom...