Over 50,000 Sikhs observed Guru Nanak Jayanti, the 549th birth anniversary of their founder Guru Nanak, here on Wednesday.
Celebrations started at 6am with Sabad Kirtans (songs in praise of Guru Nanak) at all the seven gurdwaras located at Main Road, Aryapuri, Hatia, Station Road, Piska More, Booty More and Kadru.
In the afternoon, langar (community feast) was organised at Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School in Pee Pee Compound in the city.
Chief minister Raghubar Das and urban development minister C.P. Singh greeted the Sikh community on the occasion, which is also known as Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav. “Sikh kaum ek mahan kaum hai. Sikhon ko Guru Nanak ke adarsh par chalne ki avasyakta hai (Sikhism is a great religion. Each Sikh should follow the ideal of Guru Nanak),” Das said in his message on the occasion.
Ashok Kumar Gera, associated with Aryapuri gurdwara, said celebrations had started since November 21.
State urban development minister CP Singh enjoys a meal at Guru Nanak school in Ranchi on Friday Picture Manob Chowdhary
“Celebrations started from Wednesday with Nagar Kirtan, a procession involving transporting Sikhism’s holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib on a palanquin through the streets while singing devotional hymns. Streets were decorated for the festivities with Sikh flags and flowers. On Thursday evening, Sabad Kirtan was organised at the gurdwara followed by langar,” Gera, who last year visited Nankana Saheb, the birth place of Guru Nanak in Pakistan, said.
Naresh Papneja, spokesperson of Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha, said festivities continued till late at night.
In Jamshedpur, more than 10,000 people took part on the 5km procession from Ramdas Bhatta gurdwara in Bistupur to the Central gurdwara in Sakchi. All gurdwaras were adorned for the occasion.
