Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings showing way to humanity: LG

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha paying obeisance at Gurdwara Chand Nagar in Jammu on Friday. —Excelsior/Rakesh
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha paying obeisance at Gurdwara Chand Nagar in Jammu on Friday. —Excelsior/Rakesh

Gurpurab celebrated with religious fervour, gaiety
Sikhs in J&K seek Minority Commission

Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Nov 19: The ‘Prakash Parv’ of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was celebrated with great enthusiasm, religious fervour and gaiety across the region today.
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The main function in connection with the 552nd birth anniversary of great Guru was organized at Chand Nagar (Lower Gumat) Gurdwara by the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) Jammu which was attended by Lt Governor of the J&K UT, Manoj Sinha, former Dy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta and Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Raghav Langar besides others. Thousands of devotees thronged the Gurdwara Yadgaar Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Chand Nagar and offered special prayers today.
The Lieutenant Governor while paying obeisance at Gurdwara, Chand Nagar prayed for sustained peace, prosperity, happiness and well-being of all. Sinha said that Guru Nanak Dev placed the service of the people as first and foremost duty of human beings. The great Guru believed and propagated selfless service as a priceless virtue. Every single word of his teachings is as relevant today as it was 500 years ago, he added.
“The teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji are showing way to the entire humanity for the last 500 years,” the Lt Governor observed.
He said that following the timeless message of Guru Ji’s teachings, every man should serve the needy with complete dedication and devotion. The new generations must imbibe the great learning propagated by Guru Nanak Ji to understand the purpose of human life and have a fulfilling life journey.
Saying that our ancestors considered religion as the basis of life, Sinha observed that religion always connects and does not exclude. The Gurus had made countless sacrifices to protect this idea of the religion, he added.
“It is the duty of all of us to imbibe Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s mantra of contentment and human service in one’s own life and spread it to the masses”, he remarked.
The Lt Governor expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting selfless service as a national duty by making an action plan based on the teachings of revered Sikh Gurus. He said that it is a matter of happiness that Kartarpur Corridor has been opened before the Prakash Parv.
Lauding the efforts of Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir during Covid, Sinha said that they have actively served humanity with the blessings of the Gurus. “The work done by the Sikh community to provide food and ration to the people during Covid is an inspiration for the whole country”, he added.
Noting that many programs are being organized in the `Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the Lt Governor underscored the need to spread the vision of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to every nook and corner of the society.
Extending greetings on the auspicious occasion, he appealed to all to follow the path of truth, honesty, selfless service and devotion to God shown by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Earlier, DGPC members led by its president Jagjeet Singh, general secretary Fateh Singh, Avtar Singh Khalsa and others submitted a memorandum with charter of demands of the community to the Lt Governor.
The main demands projected in the memorandum included- setting up of Minority Commission in J&K and according minority status to the Sikhs, settlement of 1947 refugees issue once and for all, inclusion of Sikhs living in Kashmir in SRO 425, publication of Ansari Commission Report, provide justice to Punjabi language and include it in official languages list, provide special package to Transport Industry and handover ex-MLC and Chairman All J&K Transport Welfare Association, TS Wazir’s murder case to the CBI as Crime Branch of Delhi Police has failed to work out the case till today.
On the occasion, the religious gathering was also addressed by Bhai Harpreet Singh- a prominent Sikh preacher from SGPC Amritsar, Sant Tejwant Singh- chief of Dera Sant Pura Danna, Mahant Manjit Singh- chief priest from Dera Nangali Sahib Poonch, Bhai Harpinder Singh from Sikh Mission J&K and others.
Another function was held at Gurdwara Chatti Padshahi, Tali Sahib Jammu by the local management committee. A large number of devotees offered special prayers at the Gurdwara which was highly decorated. Similar functions were held in various Gurdwaras across Jammu city and other districts across the region.
In Poonch, Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev Ji was celebrated with religious devotion and great reverence here at Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Poonch city.
After Akhand Path, the Gurbani Kirtan was recited by Satinderpal Singh from Punjab, Hoshiarpur and local Ragi Jathas, Bhai Harcharan Singh, Bupinder Singh and others.
Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Inder Jeet also paid obeisance at Gurdwara Singh Sabha Poonch and addressed the Sangat. He conveyed his greetings to the devotees on the Prakash Parv of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The president of Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee Poonch, Narinder Singh threw light on the life and teachings of great Guru.