From religious discourses to community kitchen devotees in large numbers participate  

Jamshedpur : The Sikh community in the city is geared up to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary (Prakash Utsav) celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev jee tomorrow. Several organisations have lined up series of events to mark the rare occasion.  

On the day Prakash Parv on November 12 almost all the 36 gurudwaras in the city will organize religious functions and host langar (mass kitchen) as a part of the celebrations. Almost all the 36 Gurudwaras in the district are being decked up for the occasion.

“ Guru Nanak Dev jee was a messenger who was inspired by the creator.  Guru jee saw the world suffering from hatred, fanaticism, falsehood and hypocrisy so he made a pledge to humanity and spent nearly 25 years travelling around the world to inspire mankind to live a truthful life. Guru Nanak Dev jees encouraged everyone to seek within their own heart and realise that there is one Creator which exists everywhere and in every heart, regardless of religion, colour or creed. Guru Nanak’s teachings are the foundation of the Sikh religion,” Giani Gurpratap Singh, a Sikh priest. 

The birthday of Guru Nanak Sahib falls on Kartik Poornima, i.e., the day of the full moon in the month of Kartik. In the Gregorian Calendar, the birthday of Guru Nanak usually falls in the month of November, but its date varies from year to year, based on the traditional dates of the Indian calendar.

A few days before Guru Purab, people take out Prabhat Pheris or the early morning processions from the Gurdwaras. They go around their locality singing shabad or the religious hymns.

Later in the day, special kirtans are arranged in the Gurdwaras. The devotees attend langar or the common meals where everyone eats the same food irrespective of caste, class, or creed. Devotees offer their services for cooking food, cleaning the Gurdwara or carrying out other chores. This is called the Kar Seva.

The entire Sikh community gets engaged in the true festive mood. Delectable delicacies are also prepared on this holy occasion and distributed.

Moreover, at Station Road Jugsalai Gurudwara, a four-day religious discourse programme is being organised in which head priest Gupratap Singh is conducting the programme. Singh is explaining the meanings of Guru Nanak Dev ji’s compilation of Japji Sahib. Over 300 devotees are participating in the event.

The Central Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (CGPC), the apex body of  Sikhs in the city would take out a religious procession on November 17 to mark the occasion. The procession would get off from Jemco Gurudwara at 12 noon and would culminate at Sakchi Gurudwara in the evening.

Gurumukh Singh Mukhe, president, CGPC said that the it is a historical year for the Sikh community the Sikhs are prepared for the ‘Prakash Utsav’ of their first guru. 

He said that men, women and children of several Punjabi schools and members of religious organisations would participate in the procession. The performance of all the participating teams would be judged and felicitated at a religious congregation. Preparations were in full swing to make the event memorable he added.