SIDHUPUR (LUDHIANA): In a heartwarming display of Punjab's legacy of brotherhood and mutual respect, the Hindu majority and Sikh minority of this village came together to celebrate Gurpurab at a Shiva temple.
Ranjeet Singh, a Sikh and yet general secretary of the Hindu temple committee, shared with TOI how the sweet tradition had started with Shri Muktidham Shiva Mandir itself in 2019, on Guru Nanak Dev's 550th birth anniversary. "Since then, we've celebrated not only Gurpurab but also Baisakhi, Shivratri, Janmashtami, and Durga Puja together. We also organise chhabeel (a sweet-water langar) on Guru Arjan Dev Ji's Shaheedi Diwas (martyrdom day)," he said.
United for the festival, Sidhupur is home to 2,000 people, mostly migrant factory workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with Hindus forming 85% of its population and Sikhs making up the remaining 15%. Despite this demographic divide, both communities join for the festivals in the spirit of harmony. For this year's Gurpurab, they decorated the temple with lights, balloons, and pictures of Guru Nanak Dev. A ceremonial lighting of 555 diyas added to the atmosphere, as devotees prepared 'Metha Ka Prashad'. The celebrations concluded with a community langar, serving attendees.