Colombo, November 9 (newsin.asia): The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka celebrated the 550th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh religion on Saturday, November 9.
A talk and a documentary on Sikhism were followed by a soulful rendition of Sikh devotional songs called Kirtan/Ardas by Gyaniji from the Sri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, Colombo. The Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sadhu, graced the occasion.
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the first Guru and founder of Sikhism, one of the youngest religions in the world. He was a poet, a religious teacher, a social reformer, and a householder who preached that God is one, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and beyond all form and name. His thought that ‘All men are equal’ led to a social doctrine which was against discrimination based on caste, religion, race, colour or financial status.
Sikhism which originated in the North-western part of the Indian sub-continent in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century A.D, now nearly has 30 million followers spread all over the world. It is the world’s fifth largest organized religion, as well as being the world’s ninth-largest overall religion. Sikhismis based on the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Guru and the nine Sikh gurus that succeeded him.
The Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, named the scripture ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ as his successor, terminating the line of human Gurus and making the scripture the eternal, religious spiritual guide for Sikhs. Guru Nanak DevJi’sbirth is celebrated worldwide on the full-moon day in the month of Kartak (October–November).
Guru Nanak Visited Sri Lanka
Guru Nanak Dev Ji himself had traveled extensively to all parts of the Indian Sub-continent and West Asia. He is reported to have visited Sri Lanka. During his spiritual journeys, he held discourses with priests of various sects of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Muslims. He engaged in dialogue with other religions which cemented his belief that God is one and who teaches tolerance. He then set up a unique spiritual, social, and political platform based on equality, fraternal love, goodness, and virtue.
The High Commission of India commemorated the special day with a talk, documentary screening and soulful rendition of Kirtan/Ardas by Gyaniji from Sri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, Colombo.
(The featured image at the top shows the Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu being received at the function)
