550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji being celebrated today

The 550th birth anniversary of first Sikh guru and founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev is being celebrated on Tuesday as Prakash Parv. President Ramnath Kovind will take part in the festivities at Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district of Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent more than 15 years at Sultanpur Lodhi, where he attained enlightenment.

Many cities in Punjab are celebrating the Prakash Parv. The Golden Temple in Amritsar has been decorated with flowers. Nagar Kirtans were taken out yesterday in various cities including Amritsar.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar will visit Huzoor Sahib Sachkhand Gurudwara in Nanded. He will serve in the langar and will participate in plantation of 550 saplings. He will also take part in an exhibition organised by the government which will showcase the life journey of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Nanded holds great significance



for Sikhs. It was in Nanded that the Tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji mandated that the Guru Granth Sahib will be the guiding light for the Sikhs like a true Guru in future. Nanded gets pilgrims from the world over.

Guru Nanak Dev was born on the full moon day of Kartik month in 1526. Every year, the Prakash Parv is celebrated on the same day, also known as Kartik Poornima. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a philosopher, social reformer, thinker and poet. Devotees organise langar at various places on this occasion.

The celebrations are not confined to India alone. Indian High Commission in Dubai has been decorated on the occasion. In Nepal too, many programmes have been organised. At the Guru Nanak Math in Kathmandu, Akhand Path and Shabad Kirtan were organised. Guru Nanak Dev Ji came to this place in Nepal to meditate during his third Udasi.