Guru Nanak Dev Ji travelled around the world to spread the message that there is only one God. So, it makes sense that on his 550th birthday, his birthday is celebrated around the world by his devotees in full splendour.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus and the founder of Sikhism. His birthday is celebrated each year as Gurpurab or Guru Nanak Jayanti. The big day fell on the 12th November this year and the world lit up in celebration.
The gurudwaras around the world were beautifully decorated with lights as thousands of devotees turned up to participate in the kirtans and the processions.
But the best part is that the 550th Gurpurab celebrations is that they were set in motion, way before the big day day and have warmed everyone's heart around the world. Here is a glimpse of it.
Gurpurab celebrations all over India
People in India take their festivals quite seriously, and so it is no surprise that the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi was packed with devotees on 12th November, early morning.
The entire place was beautifully decked up with lights and was radiating a sense of peace and calm amidst all the chaos.
In Sultanpur Lodhi, devotees turned up at Ber Sahib Gurudwara to celebrate and drones were used to make 'Ik Onkar' during the night time. This is the place where Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent 14 years of his life and gained enlightenment.
Devotees also flocked to the famous Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara in Amritsar and other Sikh shrines in the country India. Residents of Chandigarh also celebrated Gurpurab's true spirit by lighting 3000 diyas and using the quotes from Gurubani to spread the message of anti-crackers and anti-stubble burning.
All over India, devotees were participating in processions, langars, kirtans, and all to commemorate this auspicious day.
From Patna to Prayagaraj, processions were in full swing to celebrate the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
But the celebrations were not just limited to cities, Air India carrier also took part in the 550th celebrations and printed the symbol of 'Ik Onkar' on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft's tail.
And they also launched a direct flight from Amritsar to London on Gurpurab to allow Sikh pilgrims to visit Punjab easily. Moreover, they have promised to share Punjabi cuisine on this flight too!
Gurpurab celebrations around the world
Gurpurab celebrations started a few days earlier as Madagascar's Indian embassy organised the event that was followed by a langar. The Indian ambassador, Abhay Kumar, also discussed the importance of Gurpurab and focused on his teaching of living together peacefully as a community in the modern era.
All Indian devotees attended this celebration in Madagascar and paid their tributes to the Sikh guru before indulging in the langar.
But what surprised all the devotees around the world is a video showing a group of Sikh devotees singing shabd kirtan at the Great Wall of China. Yes, you heard me right!
They were singing while playing a harmonium and tabla and the crowds could be seen enjoying their soulful music. Harnidh, a twitter user, who was in Beijing at the time took the video of the shabd kirtan which naturally went viral as the devotees can be seen spreading positivity at the ancient wall of China.
Apart from that, Sikh devotees all over the world were organising langars and distributing food for a week to passersby while sharing Guru Nanak Dev Ji's message with them.
In Birminghan, UK, the Midland Langar Seva Society was also distributing food from the Guru Nanak Langar Bus on 12th November.
Devotees in Pakistan also celebrated Gurpurab with all the vigor in Sikh temples of Karachi and and the famous Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartapur.
One of the most special celebrations for Sikh pilgrims was in Kartarpur in Pakistan where Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent his final years. Pakistan opened the Kartarpur corridor on the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji so Indian pilgrims can walk to this special shrine to pay their tributes. What's amazing is that Indians don't need a visa to visit this temple!
This was truly a great step and the best way to spread the message which Guru Nanak Dev Ji had been all about.
All in all, this year's celebrations were special and probably a much-needed. They not only re-ignited hope in our minds but also showed us that country lines cannot stop Guru Nanak Dev Ji's teaching of equality and selfless service from reaching out to the rest of the world.
Happy Gurpurab to you all!
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