The birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev Ji was celebrated with great fervor all over the United States. Tens of thousands of the Sikhs went to functions in the Gurdwaras commemorating the event which dispelled darkness encompassing the world in which Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born five centuries ago.
The Gurus birth anniversary is a festival which is celebrated by many communities in India and al) ‘over the world. Parades, Nagar Kirtans, Prabhat Pheris distribution of sweets and food to people of all creeds who come to Gurdwaras, discourses on the teachings of the Great Guru and commemorative functions mark the occasion all over the World, especially in India.
NEWYORK: New York City has perhaps the largest concentration of the Sikhs in the U.S. and the Sikh Cultural Society in Richmond Hill here as usual had the most impressive gathering which numbered an estimated 10,000 Sikh men women and children all festively dressed.
The Gurpurb celebrations stated on’ Nov 19 with a Kirtan Darbar in which the ragi jathas of Bhai Bhagwan Singh, Bhai Amir Singh, Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Bawa Singh, and Bhai Inderjit Singh participated. Giani Gurdeep ‘Singh the head priest of SCC also performed Kirtan.
On the Gurpurb evening of Nov 23 there was a diwan which was attended by about two thousand devotees, Langar was served to all present.
The Sunday’s diwan had around 10,000 devotees present according, to S. Jagjit Singh Mangat the president of the organization and the newly renovated Gurdwara building was teeming with humanity.
Among those who addressed the congregation were S. Baldev SIngh who spoke on the roles of Gurdwaras as religious, cultural and social centers and of religion and politics. Harbhajan Singh Gill Spoke about the trials and tribulations of those held in the Bhajan Lal and Vaidya cases.
The Singh Sabha of New York at Bowne Street held Kirtan on Nov 23 from 8 pm to midnight. S. Swinder Singh Joshen the president of the body addressed the audience on the significance of the Gurpurb and the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
NEW JERSEY: In New Jersey the state’s legislative assembly speaker Charles Hardwick was the guest of honor at the Garden State Sikh Association Gurdwara in Bridgewater on Sunday Nov 27. Earlier on Nov 23 there was Kirtan and an Akhand Path the bhog of which was held on Nov 27.
The Speaker addressing a thousand strong gathering spoke about the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and said that America was not a “melting pot” as it is generally said to be. He compared it to a “stew” in which individual ingredients are together but retain their individual flavors. He said he would look into the question of recruitment of the Sikhs in the State police while retaining their turbans and beards.
This was one of the demands which S. Satwant Singh Sadhar and the president of the Gurudwar had raised in his welcome address.
At the Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Paramus the Guru’s 519th birth anniversary was celebrated by a diwan on Nov 23 evening. A “rainswai” the rendering of kirtan throughout the night, was held on Friday Nov 25 in which Bhai Jiwan Singh, Bhai Inderjit Singh and Bhai Bawa SIngh participated. The bhog of an Akhand path was held on Nov 27 after which Bhupinder Singh of Gurmat Missionary College addressed the congregation, according to S. Pritpal Singh Khalsa the Secretary.
MARYLAND: In Maryland the Guru Nanak Foundation of America in Silver Springs held a function on Nov 27 which was attended by an estimated 3,000 people according to S. Kashmir Singh Dhaliwal the Secretary. After the kirtan the sangat was addressed by S. Gurmit Singh Ghunia, Sardarni Karnail Kaur Deol and S. Gurbaksh SIngh Gill former dean of the Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana who spoke on the violation of the human rights of Sikhs in India.
The Guru Gobind Singh Foundation in Silver Springs held a diwan on Nov 13 after which members of the foundation participated in the Interfaith Concert in Washington according to S. Rajwant Singh, the Secretary.
The Sikh Association of Baltimore celebrated the Gurpurb at a school in Baltimore on Nov 6 which was attended by 250-300 people according to S. Pritam Singh Bhutani the Secretary.
VIRGINIA: The Sikh Foundation of Virginia held a diwan in Fairfax, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on Nov 20 which was attended by a thousand people according to S. Tripat Singh the Chairman. Another function was held on the evening of Nov 23, the day of the Gurpurb. The Sikh Association of Central Virginia in Richmond held a function on Nov 12 which included kirtan and competition in which children spoke on the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, according to S. Baljit Singh Sidhu, the Secretary.
WASHINGTON: In the nation’s capital, Washington, the Sikh Cultural Society celebrated Gurpurb ‘on the 20th of November, at their Gurdwara on Military Road. On the 23rd of November a “Rainswai” was held at the residence of Mr. Gobind Singh Hemmani.
MASSACHUETTS: The New England Sikh Study Circle of Boston celebrated the Gurpurb on Nov 20 at a rented hall in Westboro M.A. An estimated 200 people attended the function which was addressed by Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh. Sangat from New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rode Island attended the celebrations there.
- CAROLINA: The Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina in Durham observed the Gurpurb on Nov 20 at which Giani Narain Singh and S. Jagmohan Singh rendered the Kirtan. Children also sang a few shabads to the two hundred or so members of the sangat, according to S. Manjit Singh Jawa a Trustee.
GEORGIA: The bhog of an Akhand Path to commemorate the Gurpurb was held on Nov 13 at the Sikh Religious Society, Guru Nanak Darbar, in Agusta Georgia which was attended by the local and sangat of neighboring states. A kirtan darbar was also held in the evening on Nov 23 to commemorate the Gurpurb, according to S. Harinder Jit Singh, a Trustee.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 2, 1988
