Kulwant Singh Ankhi of the Amritsar Vikas Manch highlighted the medium's lasting relevance.

All India Radio (AIR), Amritsar, has expanded its early morning Gurbani broadcast from the Golden Temple to a full two-hour slot. This marks a significant development for devotees, as the service, which was initiated by Prasar Bharati on January 13, now airs sacred kirtan from 4 am to 6 am, doubling the previous one-hour transmission.

Relayed from the Gharinda village centre near Attari, the FM broadcast caters to listeners in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. According to the report, the transmission also reaches across the international border into Pakistan. 

Bhagwant Singh Dhangera, manager of the Golden Temple, welcomed the move and said that many prefer radio over television, as Gurbani is "more of an art to be heard than watched."

Former engineer Harjap Singh Aujla, who spearheaded the demand for expanded FM coverage, said that FM offers better sound quality compared to traditional Medium Wave (MW) signals, which are often obstructed by high-rise buildings. 

While AIR Jalandhar has historically provided three hours of daily kirtan on MW, Aujla expressed hope that the Amritsar station will soon add an evening broadcast slot.

The demand for radio broadcasts dates back to the 1982 Dharam Yudh Morcha. 

Kulwant Singh Ankhi of the Amritsar Vikas Manch highlighted the medium's lasting relevance, noting many listeners historically tuned into Gurbani rendered in classical ragas.

Source: The Tribune