Gurdwaras across India prepare for Guru Nanak's birthday celebrations

27 November, 2012

Guru Nanak's birthday is one of the most important festivals that is celebrated all over the world by the people following Sikhism. It is an auspicious day as people remember the Guru and his philosophies.

GURU NANAK was the the pioneer of Sikhism and the first of the 10 Sikh gurus, who helped preach and spread Sikhism in the world. The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak is one of the main holidays of Sikhs, which they celebrate on each full moon night in the month of Kartik, which falls on November 28 this year. On the day, every year people celebrate the philosophies of the Guru.

Guru Nanak Saheb was born in in 1469 A.D. into a Bedi Kshatriya family in the village of Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, now known as Nankana Sahib near Lahore in Pakistan. His father, Mehta Kalu and mother Tripti Devi were from a humble background and he also had a sister by the name Bebe Nanaki.

From a young age, he was drawn to the spiritual world as whenever he was given money he used to distribute it among beggars. He was well read in Hinduism and Islam and is known to have been influenced by both religions. He was also influenced highly by Kabir's teachings and Sufism. After marriage however, he left home to preach that “There is no Hindu, there is no Mussulman.”

On the auspicious day, the Guru Granth Sahib is read out continuously for 48 hours prior to the festival. Processions are also taken out each year, where Sikhs sing hymns in his praise. Prior to the day all the Gurdwaras are decked up and the Palki for Guru Granth Sahib, Panj Pyaras and Gatka team displaying their sword skills and martial arts are performed. Free food also known as langar is served to whoever visits Gurdwaras.

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COMMENTS (1)

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daljeet singh

"Na Koi Hindu Na Musalmaan" were one of the first words of Sahib after he is believed to have attained enlightenment in the Bein river. He stuck to this message of equality of human race irrespective of religion, caste or color of skin for rest of his life by rejecting philosophies of both religions and creating a new religious order in Sikhism. He preached equality of humans and stressed that loving devotion to God and singing his glory is the only way to salvation. He also asked his followers to work hard to earn a living and share with the less fortunate.