By Balwant Sanghera

India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, 8600 # 5 Road in Richmond, celebrated Guru Nanak Devji’s 555 th Parkash Purb(birth anniversary) with a great deal of enthusiasm. From early morning on Friday, November 14, devotees began pouring into the Gurdwara Sahib to pay their respects and homage to Guru Nanak Dev ji. Akhand Paath to celebrate Guru ji’sPrakashPurb was begun on Wednesday afternoon. Around 5 PM the bhog ceremony began. After the bhog and a few other formalities, on behalf of the Gurdwara management committee, I had the honour to welcome everyone and give a brief overview of Guru Nanak Dev ji’s life and message.

Guru Nanak is affectionately called Yug Pursh (Man of the Millenium). His three principes- make an honest living, share and help others and meditate in the name of God Almighty- are applicable universally. He travelled widely to convey his message of equality, pluralism and diversity. Guru Nanak isvery well respected   as a visionary, explorer, scientist, and revolutionary. Guru ji was a fearless advocate for justice, fairness and equality. Guru Nanak Dev practised what he preached. He fought against injustice of any kind. He laid the foundation of a unique spiritual and social structure based on universal brotherhood, equality, justice and mutual respect. Guru ji laid the foundation of four major institutions for the Sikhs-Sangat /Pangat, Langar, Dharmshala (Gurdwara) and Guruship. 

Guru Nanak Dev ji strongly believed in the unity of mankind. His message of one God, one Creator had a very wide appeal. Guru ji believed that as children of God we are all interrelated and that God alone is the ultimate source of authority. It has been reported that during his travels around the globe, around 1510, Guru ji arrived in Mecca and  met  Quazi Rukh Ud Din .The Quazi asked Guru ji about his religion. Guru Nanak Dev’s answer was that he was a man of God and that he had no religion.  A few years later, a Muslim scholar, Ubare Khan asked Guru Ji the same question (are you a Hindu or a Muslim?) when he was visiting Dera Baba Nanak in the Punjab. Guru Nanak’s answer was the same. He further added that God is immortal and is neither Hindu nor Muslim. He added that loving God and His Creation is extremely important and that all of this can be done without the label of religion.

Guru Nanak gave so much to the world that it can take pages and pages of paper to recount. His contribution to the world and the Sikhs is beyond imagination. In this context, it gives us an excellent opportunity to remember and appreciate Guru ji’s contribution to humanity. On Friday, the huge congregation at Gurdwara Nanak Niwas in Richmond, like numerous other places of worship around the globe, were honoured to pay tribute to Guru Nanak Dev ji. The congregation enjoyed listening to the kirtan and account of the contribution of Guru Nanak Dev ji to us. The celebration concluded with a prayer and langar. On behalf of the Gurdwara Management committee I would like to thank everyone for their attendance and participation on this very special day. 

Balwant Sanghera is the Secretary, India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, Richmond, BC, Canada.