Celebrating Guru Nanak: 3,000 Sikhs from Peshawar travel to Lahore

Special prayers will be held between midnight and 1am for Pakistan’s welfare and prosperity.

PESHAWAR:

At least 3,000 Sikhs have left Peshawar for Gurdwara Janam Aastan Nankana Sahib in Lahore to participate in the prayers and celebrations to mark the 546th birthday of Guru Nanak.

Nearly 20 buses and around 40 cars from Peshawar arrived in Lahore on November 3. The prayers commenced on November 4 and will continue until November 6 (today).

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sardar Charanjit Singh, a Sikh religious leader, said the celebrations were held in advance in all other cities. However, the main prayers to mark the occasion are being held in Gurdwara Janam Astan in Lahore. He added the government has also provided for food and security to yatris who will be attending the ceremony.

According to Charanjit Singh, a large number of Sikhs from Peshawar and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) are participating in this year’s celebrations.

“Since Baba Guru Nanak Sahib was born between midnight and 1am, special prayers will be held [at the time] for the prosperity and welfare of Pakistan,” he said. Pakistan needs religious tolerance and interfaith harmony the most at this stage, Charanjit Singh added.

Guru Nanak’s birthday marks an important event that attracts yatris from all over the world – including India, Europe and America –to Lahore.

Words of gratitude

Sardar Babajee Gorpal Singh, a leader from Peshawar and member of Gurdwara Payee Joga Singh, congratulated the community on the occasion.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Gorpal Singh lauded the Punjab government for officially celebrating Guru Nanak’s birthday for the first time. He thanked them for hosting Sikh pilgrims from India and declaring Thursday (today) a public holiday to commemorate Guru Nanak’s birthday.

“We are very happy that the Punjab government has announced a public holiday on November 6 and hope that K-P government will follow suit,” he added.

According to Gorpal Singh, Sikhs suffered a great deal owing to ongoing militancy and terrorism that has plagued the country. He said they want peace and stability in the country which is only possible if people respect each other’s religious beliefs.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2014.