Sikh community celebrating Baba Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary

NAROWAL (92 News) – Sikh community is celebrating 550th birth anniversary of founder Baba Guru Nanak’s all over the world on Tuesday (today). Main ceremony in this regard will be held at Gurdwara Janam Asthan at Nankana Sahib today. It is one of the biggest birthday celebrations in the world: millions of Sikhs will mark the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of their religion, the Guru Nanak. The annual celebration has been given extra significance this year with the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, a secure, visa-free passage between  India and Pakistan that gives Indian Sikhs access to the place where the guru died in 1539, now one of the religion's holiest sites. Several federal ministers will join large numbers of Sikh religion followers from world over in the ceremony. Foolproof security arrangements have been made to avoid any untoward incident. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, in his message, on the occasion said opening of Kartarpur corridor has rejuvenated the joys of Sikh community and it is another historic step of the PTI government for promotion of religious harmony. Usman Buzdar has congratulated the Sikh community on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He said the birthday of Baba Guru Nanak is a festival of joy and religious fervour. He said that Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the best example of religious tolerance and inter-faith harmony. The Punjab chief minister said that Baba Guru Nanak promoted the message of brotherhood and government welcomes the Sikh community coming to the Punjab province for attending the birthday celebrations. He said that Sikhs are enjoying complete freedom to live according to their faith in Pakistan. Usman Buzdar said that special attention is being paid to the maintenance, renovation and security of Sikh community's worship places.

Who was Guru Nanak?

Guru Nanak was born in 1469 to a Hindu family at Nankana Sahib, a Pakistani city about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the eastern city of Lahore. Some legends say there were signs of divinity around him from the start, such as the time a cobra was found rearing over his head — not to attack him, but to shade him from the sun as he napped. As he grew older the Guru began travelling, preaching a faith based on equality and one God. He died in 1539 in the Punjabi town of Kartarpur, in modern-day Pakistan, where his remains are buried. Nine gurus followed Guru Nanak and there is no living human successor, but the Guru Granth Sahib — the Sikh holy book — is considered the 11th and eternal.