Radio New Zealand
Wellington, November 18, 2024
Sikhs in New Zealand and the world on Friday celebrated the 555th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh faith and its first guru.
The anniversary also known as Guru Nanak Jayanti or Guru Purab, falls on the full moon of the Indian lunar month Kartika, which typically falls in October or November.
The day is typically celebrated with devotion and reverence and is an annual public holiday in India.
Sikh communities everywhere mark the day with grand processions featuring Shabad Keertan (ceremonial carrying of the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib on a decorated vehicle) and Nishan Sahiban (religious flag-bearers) accompanied by displays of a traditional Sikh martial art called gatka.
Many Sikh temples mark the occasion with a 48-hour uninterrupted reading of Guru Granth Sahib called the Akhand Path, leading up to the anniversary.
On this day, Gurdwaras are decorated with flowers, flags and lights.
As is Sikh tradition, langar (communal meals) are served to temple visitors. The day customarily ends with a fireworks display.
Major celebrations take place in the Indian state of Punjab where many Sikhs live, especially at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Nankana Sahib, located about 80 km from Lahore in Pakistan, where Guru Nanak was born in 1469, and at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur (also in Pakistan), where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life.
In New Zealand, many temples, including Takanini Gurdwara Sahib in Auckland and Gurdwara Sri Guru Amardas Sahib Ji in Rotorua, have organised a 48-hour Akhand Path that ends on Friday evening.
The above report and the pictures have been published under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz.
The following Report appeared in our Guru Nanak Jayanti Special 2002:
The Supreme Ideal of Divine Love
The Lord Himself assumed the luminous form of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib.
Sri Guru Nanak Sahib’s form as well as His Glory is Eternal.
The Lord has not given up that Glorious Form.
Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj proved beyond a trace of doubt the authenticity of this Eternal Truth enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
The Supreme Lord Guru Nanak is above all human Limitations.
The Lord Guru Nanak is eternally present in His glorious and luminous form.
The pure and the devout see and perceive Him face to face and are blessed with His personal guidance.
Wherever Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj installed Sri Guru Granth Sahib, that place became holy and was blessed with the living physical presence of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib.
Sri Guru Nanak Sahib’s Immortal Physical presence was experienced and envisioned by many blessed souls at these sacred spots. His heavenly physical form was not subject to time and space.
In the course of human history, the advent of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was the advent of a new and glorious spiritual era, an era of the advent of a Universal Religion of Love.
The purity of holy ingredients in the preparation of this spiritual nutrition (Gurbani) and that also soaked in the Nectar of the holy Nam showers the Nectar of immortality on all the thirsting and yearning souls.
Guru Nanak Sahib is the Highest Ideal being the Supreme Sample of Divine Perfection and the Supreme Repository of all Divine Excellence. To the Lovers and Bhagats, He is the Supreme Ideal of Divine Love.
For a true lover of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib, the vision of Guru Nanak Sahib becomes his very eye-sight. Such a lover thinks, contemplates and meditates on Sri Guru Nanak Sahib. He only sees and envisions his beloved Sri Guru Nanak Sahib, he hears only His Gurbani and all the time repeats and recites His Divine Name.
Sri Guru Nanak Sahib is our Sovereign Lord and Highest Ideal.
His Supreme Majesty delights every heart. The devotion of a Sikh flows from his sterling faith in Lord Guru Nanak.
When the Divine Charm of the Beloved Lord has struck the eyes, how can they be focused on anything called worldly? When the eyes start beholding the over-powering Majestic Beauty of the most Beloved Satguru, the glamour of sensual objects becomes meaningless, insignificant and trifle.
The divine Joy of this Sight is inexpressible and defies description.
Only a true aspirant engaged in constant meditation on the Luminous Form of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib is granted His Vision Perpetual.
All Munis and Rishis deeply meditate on the Lustrous and Glorious Form of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib and strive hard to catch a holy glimpse thereof, just a glimpse.
Sri Guru Nanak Sahib is the Lord of Mercy, the Friend of the poor and the Protector of the meek, the suppressed and sinful. Sri Guru Nanak Sahib loves the humble in spirit.
He is the refuge of the poor and downgraded.
