Punjab and Bengal have a shared history, chief minister Mamata Banerjee told the Sikh community on the eve of the 553rd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Monday.
“Go to the Cellular Jail in Andaman. Go there and see. Punjab and Bengal were at the forefront of the freedom struggle. Punjab and Bengal have a long-standing relationship. That is why Rabindranath Tagore wrote ‘Punjab Sindhu Gujarat Maratha Dravid Utkala Banga’ in the Jana Gana Mana song. The people of Punjab defend the country. Many of them are in the army, defending our borders,” Mamata said at a programme at Shaheed Minar to celebrate the birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism.
Gurdwaras across the city are gearing up to celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti on Tuesday. They will organise kirtans, and recite hymns and katha, telling stories from the lives of the Sikh gurus.
Langar, where people sit on the floor and eat, will continue through the day at the gurdwaras. A langar meal typically consists of dal, roti, rice, vegetable curry, salad, kheer, halwa and curd.
On Monday, people from various communities assembled at a programme to remember the teachings of Guru Nanak.
The programme, titled Ek Onkar (One Universal Creator), was meant to reflect on the Guru’s life and honour his teachings of compassion, unity, and equality.
“Sri Guru Nanak Devji spread the light of knowledge and inspired all to become free from discrimination and rituals and in turn work for ‘Sarbat da Bhala’ (the well-being of all). His message inspires us to champion inclusion and embrace the differences that make us strong,” said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, chairman of IHA Foundation, the organisers of the programme.
Hockey legend and former Olympian Gurbux Singh was one of the speakers.
“The central message preached by Guru Nanak is ‘Naam Japo, Kirat Karo and Wand Chhako’, which means: remember the name of the God, perform your duty with honesty and hard work, and share whatever you earn with the needy’,” said Singh.
Amrit Kaur Sabharwal, vice-chairman of the Guru Nanak Fifth Centenary School, Mussoorie, said: “Guru Nanak’s teachings were more relevant now than ever before because we live in a world in which hatred and divisions are fuelling wars.”
Swami Shastrajnananda, secretary of Ramakrishna Mission Saradapitha; Brahmachari Divakar Chaitanya of Chinmay Mission; Fr Dominic Gomes, Vicar General, Diocese of Kolkata; and Maulana Syed Hasan Zaki Rizvi were among those who attended the programme.
The programme began with the rendition of Sikh devotional music, known as Gurbani Kirtan.
Nicholas Low, British deputy high commissioner; Eshor Raj Poudel, consul general of Nepal ;and Nicolas Facino, director of Alliance Francaise, were also present.
“The tolerance and harmony between different religions in this city, as preached by Guru Nanak, does not go unnoticed,” said Low.
Guru Nanak was described by multiple speakers as an ardent environmentalist.
Low urged the faith leaders present at the programme to inspire their countless followers to “look after the planet”.