Jamshedpur, Dec 29: Devotees across the city lined up at Gurudwaras today to immerse themselves in the colours of devotion on the occasion of 356th Parkash Purab’, the birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
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 Keertans ( 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.
A religious procession was taken out from Telco Gurudwara under the aegis of the Central Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (CGPC), the apex body of Sikhs in the city. The procession would culminate at Sakchi Gurudwara in the evening after moving through various areas.
“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 Parmeet 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. Like every year we are taking out a religious procession and chanting prayers to celebrate the birth anniversary of our revered Guru,” said Giani Iqbal Singh, a Sikh leader.
The devotees also chanted numerous prayers while walking along the chariot. In daredevil acts to depict victory over evil, Sikh martial art forms like the ‘Gatka’ were also performed by trained professionals.
Almost all the 33 Gurudwaras in the district were decked up for the occasion. They organised religious congregations 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.
Meanwhile, a two-day congregation has been organised at Sakchi Gurudwara in which the participants of the religious procession would be felicitated based on their performances.
Nation built through sacrifice and dedicaton: Arjun Munda
Country indebted to Sikh Gurus: Banna Gupta
Jamshedpur, Dec 29: The 356th Prakash Parv of Guru Govind Singh Jee was celebrated with great enthusiasm on Thursday. A grand Nagar Kirtan was taken out from Telco Gurudwara. It moved through the city streets, accompanied by a large number of Sikh devoeetees including women and children. Union Minister Arjun Munda, state health minister Banna Gupta, Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy, Tata Motors Jamshedpur Plant Head Ravindra Kulkarni and Telco Mazdoor Union president Gurmeet Singh Tote participated in the programme. They bowed before Sri Guru Granth Sahib and prayed for the prosperity and unity of the country.
Addressing the gathering, Munda said the country was built through sacrifice and dedication
In his address, Gupta said the country was indebted to the Sikh Gurus who sowed the seeds of love in the country and served the mother land. Roy said Guru Govind Singh Jee was an epitome of national unity and integrity.
