By Balwant Sanghera

Guru Nanak Dev ji’s Parkash Purb (Birthday) is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year around the globe. Same will take place this year. People around the globe will be celebrating this special day with devotion. Every Gurdwara Sahib in Metro Vancouver will be welcoming a large number of devotees to pay homage to the founder of Sikhism. India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas on Richmond’s Highway to Heaven (aka #5 Road) will commence the celebration of Guru Ji’s Parkash Purb with the beginning of Akhand Paath Sahib on Wednesday,November 17, at 5 PM. It will conclude with Bhog on Friday, November 19 at 5 PM. After the Bhog and Ardas, some prominent members of the community will shed light on Guru ji’s philosophy and message.In this connection from Wednesday, November 17 to Sunday, November 21 there will be an exhibition about Guru Ji’s life, mission and message in the Gurdwara lobby. This exhibition will be put on with cooperation of United Sikhs. There is no registration or fees to attend this exhibition.

Guru Nanak Dev ji, the founder of Sikhism, has made unparalleled contributions to humanity. His universal message of equality, fairness, justice,love and peace is as relevant to-day as it was more than 500 years ago.Guru Nanak Dev ji was an explorer, visionary, revolutionary, poet, mystic and saint. He emphasized that sovereignty belongs to God alone and that God is the ultimate source of authority.

Guru Nanak Dev ji’s three golden principles are excellent guidelines to lead a productive, peaceful and joyful life. Making an honest living, sharing and meditating in the name of God Almighty leads towards a fulfilling life. Guru ji not only preached but also practised these guiding principles. He worked for 14 years at Sultanpur Lodhi before undertaking his travels around the world to convey his message. He visited far flung places to convey his message. After completing his travels lasting 24 years and more than 28,000 kilometers Guru Nanak Sahib decided to settle in Kartarpur Sahib and started farming there. Thus, in addition to making an honest living, he also shared happily with the Sangat in the form of Langar. Thus, he started the concept of Langar which is now very popular worldwide and admired by Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike. Nearly every Gurdwara around the globe tries to carry on this tradition of providing free food to the needy. 

Guru Nanak Dev ji’s third principle of meditating in the name of God Almighty is fully reflected in the Gurbani. His 974 hymns in Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, all in the praise of God, are a great source of joy for the devotees. GuruSahib emphasized that the most important attribute for a person is to be a good human being. Guru Nanak Sahib firmly stood for pluralism, diversity, tolerance, peaceful co-existence, equality and social justice. He promoted a balanced life and harmony with Nature. Guru Nanak Dev ji was a genius, superb teacher and a fearless revolutionary way ahead of his time. 

Management Committee of India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas would like to invite the public to join it in celebrating GuruJi’sParkash Purb and visit the exhibition about Guru Ji philosophy and message.For further information your readers can call the Gurdwara Sahib at 604-274-7479. 

Balwant Sanghera is the General Secretary, Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, Richmond, BC.