SGPC to dedicate first event on November 1 to Bhai Mardana

550 ARTISTS WILL PLAY STRING INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING RABAB, DURING NAGAR KIRTAN TO BE TAKEN OUT FROM KAPURTHALA VILLAGE TO SULTANPUR LODHI

SULTANPUR LODHI: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is all set to kickstart the celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak by dedicating its first event to Bhai Mardana on November 1.

As part of the plan, 550 students of Gurshabad Academy, Punjab, will play various string instruments, including rabab, during the nagar kirtan that will be taken out from Gurdwara Rababsar at Bharoana village in Kapurthala to historic Gurdwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi on the first day.

Bhai Mardana, a rebeck player, was the first disciple and long-time companion of Guru Nanak. As per the history, Guru Nanak had sent Bhai Mardana to purchase a rabab from noted musician and rabab player Bhai Firanda of Bharoana village in Kapurthala district. After three days of search, Bhai Mardana met Bhai Firanda at a place where Gurdwara Rubabsar is situated. Giving reference of Guru Nanak, Mardana requested to purchase a rabab, however, Firanda declined the money and expressed his desire to meet Guru Nanak. The duo then went to Sultanpur Lodhi where Bhai Firanda offered rabab to Guru Nanak.

SGPC officials said that the nagar kirtan has been organised to highlight the part of Guru Nanak life where the musical instrument was brought from Bharoana village, and to dedicate the religious procession to Bhai Mardana. Shamsher Singh of Bharoana village, who is area coordinator of the SGPC, said 50 tractors have been arranged for the nagar kirtan scheduled on Novemeber 1. He said 11 artists will sit in each trolley playing the musical instruments before performing ‘one Shabad in one tune’ at Gurdwara Ber Sahib. “We have made all arrangements for the artists, including their stay in the village Gurdwara,” added Singh.

Surjit Singh Sabhra, head granthi (priest) of Gurdwara Ber Sahib who is supervising the preparations of the event, said they had been training the students of Gurshabad Academy for one year in string instruments.

BHAROANA VILLAGE WEARS FESTIVE LOOK

As the first event of the historic celebrations is set to start from Bharoana village, residents are upbeat and streets being whitewashed and village spruced up. Former sarpanch Saroop Singh said they are fortunate the celebrations for the event are starting from their village, so they have made arrangements for hosting the nagar kirtan.