Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema unveiled AAP’s 650th Parkash Purab itinerary at Punjab Bhawan on Tuesday. The plan maps four Shobha Yatras that will traverse the state and converge at Sri Khuralgarh Sahib on December 3. Processions will begin from Varanasi on November 30, Faridkot on December 2, Bathinda on December 1, and Jammu on November 30, covering over 1,200 kilometres of road. After the convergence, Sri Akhand Path Sahib will commence on December 4, with the Bhog ceremony scheduled for December 6.
Punjab carries the country’s highest share of Scheduled Castes, with the Doaba region home to a dense Ravidassia population. For a family from Bathinda, the yatra offers a chance to see their guru’s teachings in person after years of travel restrictions. The 650th Parkash Purab is a rare occasion for the community to unite in a shared spiritual journey, amplifying their collective voice before the polls.
The initiative arrives just months before the 2027 Assembly elections, when parties are scrambling to win Dalit support. BJP has already launched four drug‑abuse themed yatras, while Congress and SAD are deploying outreach teams to Ravidassia centres. AAP’s statewide coverage provides it with a platform to reinforce its image as a champion of marginalized communities.
Ravidassia community head Sukhdev Singh Dhillon welcomed the move, saying it ‘will keep our faith alive during the electoral season.’ The government has also rolled out drone displays, essay contests and kirtan darbars across Punjab to keep the momentum. With the Bhog ceremony on December 6, the party will shift its focus to mobilising voters on the eve of the election.