Raginis, Been Baja and Pride: Haryana prepares for 'son of soil's' formal welcome to hometown

Chandigarh: The melodious notes of ‘Been Baja' (folk music instruments), Haryanvi ‘Raginis' (folk songs), flower petals drifting through the air, and the earthy aroma of sarson ka saag, Gajjarpak and Hansi's famed Peras will announce a rare homecoming as Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India (CJI), arrives in Hansi for a two-day visit on Friday.Declared a state function by Haryana govt, the visit marks the Chief Justice's first return to his hometown after rising to the highest judicial office in the country. Accompanied by his wife, Professor Savita Vashisht, Justice Surya Kant's visit is being celebrated as the return of a proud "son of the soil". Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini will also accompany him at some places.The two-day programme is structured into 7 major engagements, combining official, academic, cultural and personal events. The visit begins with landing in Hansi, where he will inaugurate the court facilities, followed by addressing the District Bar Association, Hisar, where he started his career in the mid-1980s as a lawyer, and a visit to village Petwar, the CJI's native village, reflecting his enduring connection with the region.As per the schedule, accessed by TOI, a traditional reception is planned on the first day in Hansi. A 'Been Baja' troupe will lead the Chief Justice's convoy and escort him up to the main gate of Hansi court complex, while a police band and floral welcome will add to the ceremonial reception.Thereafter, the CJI will move to Hisar to address his ‘Karam Bhumi', the District Bar Association, Hisar, where he started his legal career four decades ago. Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Sheel Nagu, may join him there, along with other judges.In the evening, a dinner is planned for the CJI at a private hotel in Hisar, where guests will be served special local cuisines, including the famous Hansi Peras, Gajjarpak and sarson ka saag, offering a taste of the region's culinary heritage in honour of the visiting dignitary.As the visit is accorded the status of a state event, extensive arrangements are made by Haryana govt. Justice Alka Sareen, administrative judge of Hisar Sessions Division, and Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi, head of HC's building committee, and Chander Shekhar, HC Registrar General, will accompany Justice Surya Kant during the visit.Several other judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, along with their spouses, are also expected to participate in the programme. A team of the subordinate judiciary of the district, headed by Alka Malik, District and Sessions Judge, Hisar, along with other judicial officers, is assigned to make the event successful.On the second day of his visit, the CJI will be joined by the CM Saini for the inauguration of a new court and the laying of the foundation stone of the court complex for Barwala city of Hisar district, and the inauguration of a court at Narnaund in Hansi district.On the second day, a cultural and heritage tour is also organised for Professor Savita Vashisht and the spouses of accompanying judges at Rakhigarhi, an internationally recognised archaeological site of the early Harappan civilisation. The visit aims to provide meaningful insight into the region's ancient heritage. A team of judicial officers will accompany the group to facilitate the sightseeing programme. Following the visit, Professor Vashisht will join the Chief Justice at Petwar for lunch.The Chief Justice will have lunch at his native village, Petwar, where a traditional Haryanvi cultural programme is arranged in his honour. After lunch, Justice Surya Kant will attend an alumni meet at a govt college in Hisar.Set to land at 3pmAs per the details, the CJI will land at Hansi from Delhi at 3pm on Friday in a helicopter provided by the Haryana govt as he is a state guest. Thereafter, he will be provided all other facilities/security/stay/vehicles by the state govet during his visit to different places including Hansi, Hisar, Barwala, Narnaund and his native place Petwar, as per protocol. Finally, the state chopper will drop him to the air force station, Sirsa, on Saturday evening, from where the CJI will leave for Guwahati by air.