Indore: Sikh community celebrated 352nd birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh with religious fervour on Sunday, as community members in large numbers visited Khalsa College in city to attend the grand feast and ‘kirtan’ organised to mark the occasion. About 60,000 members of Sikh community joined the celebrations, served and ate at ‘langar’ together.
Celebrating the fest, community members participated in ‘sewa’, that is, offering free service of cleaning the place, cooking, serving the food in langar and cleaning utensils. “We can experience happiness only if we are loving and giving without expectations,” organising secretary Manjit Singh Bhatia said. In Sikhism, celebrations are synonymous with sharing and donations. “This function is a lesson for all of us. Life and contribution of Guru Gobind Singhji teaches us how to lead life,” secretary general of organising committee Jasbir Singh Gandhi said. Citing importance of festivity, businessman Tejinder Singh Saluja said, “It is normal for a person to take pride in self because of his achievements or wealth, but it is not right.” “Sewa helps a person to stay down to earth,” he added.
Though service and prayers were main attraction, young girls dressed in colourful traditional clothes caught everyone’s attention. Sharing the idea behind colourful attires, homemaker Sushmita Gandhi said, “Birthday of our Guru, our teacher, is the best day of the year.” She said Guru celebrated life and felt it was important to live in a way that keeps everyone happy. Talking about the fest, businessman Avtar Singh Saini remarked, “I cannot remember the first time when I went to Gurdwara, but yes, if I do not go then the day is disturbing.” He said peaceful environment and devotion helps him to stay calm and happy despite problems in his life. “I do not think service is about tradition. It is about humanity,” Saini said. Other coordinators at the festival were Jasvinder Singh Arneja, Devendra Singh Gandhi, Jagjit Singh Tuteja, Jaswant Singh Jagani and Gurmeet Singh Tuteja.