Jamshedpur, Jan 9: The 355th Prakash Utsav of 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh was celebrated with fervour with devotees across the city lining up at Gurdwaras to immerse themselves in the colours of devotion. In view of Covid-19, Nagar Kirtan, the highlight of the birth anniversary, was not taken out. Amidst strict Covid-19 protocols in place, the devotees participated in religious ceremonies.
Born in Patna, on December 22, 1666, Guru Gobind Singh was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who devoted his life to protect religious freedom. To protect the people from being oppressed, Guru Gobind Singh established the ‘Khalsa Panth’ in the year 1699.
The devotees participated in special prayer ceremonies. Free langars (holy kitchen) were also arranged and prasad (holy food) was distributed to mark the occasion.
At almost all the gurudwaras, recitations of sacred Gurubani Kirtans ( holy hymns) by renowned Sikh preachers of the city to inculcate the values of Guru Gobind Singh among the devotees on the occasion were held.
“We are celebrating ‘Prakash Utsav’, the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of Sikhs with fervour. The devotees come here to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh with a lot of happiness and devotion,” said Gurleen Kaur, a Sikh devotee.
“We are celebrating the ‘Prakash Utsav’ Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary, the tenth guru of Sikhs with happiness and fervour,” said Giani Gurpratap Singh, a Sikh scholar
Almost all the 34 Gurudwaras in the district were decked up for the occasion. They organised a religious congregation and hosted langar (mass kitchen) as a part of the celebrations.
Guru Gobind Singh was the last of the ten Gurus, the one who transformed the Sikh faith. In 1699 he created the Khalsa (Pure), a community of the faithful who wore visible symbols of their faith and trained as warriors. Today the Khalsa comprises all practicing Sikhs.