Yr-long festivities kick off in US
Year-long celebrations of Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary has kicked off in the US to spread his message of brotherhood and sharing.
The Indian embassy and consulates have chalked out a calendar of activities, including musical concerts, seminars and interfaith events throughout the year, India’s new ambassador Harsh V Shringla said. 2019 marks the 550th birth anniversary year of Guru Nanak, the first master of the Sikhs.
Shringla was addressing people gathered to celebrate the occasion with colourful events where artist Bhai Baldeep Singh played devotional music on Saturday.
“Guru Nanak Dev ji was one of India’s greatest philosophers, teachers and social reformers. Born in an epoch when the Indian society was caste-riddled, Guru Nanak’s voice was an empowering call to unshackle the human mind of centuries of religious and political tyranny and for the creation of a new egalitarian order,” Shringla told the gathering.
The Indian government, he said, is planning celebrations in various countries around the world. “In the US, the embassy has reached out to gurdwaras and Sikh community leaders to discuss ideas with them,” he said at the first of the series of year-long events in the US, being organised by the Indian embassy here in association with various Sikh groups and gurdwaras.
Observing that the enthusiasm and support of the local Sikh organisations and gurdwaras have indeed been heartening, the ambassador said the Indian embassy with their cooperation have set up a task force to coordinate the planning of different events.
The planned events include seminars on the philosophy and teachings of Guru Nanak in prestigious venues; musical concerts during the year at different venues; and interfaith events to get the message of Guru Nanak to the wider American society, Shringla said.
“We are joined by our five Consulates in Houston, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta which will similarly partner with the gurdwaras and Sikh community organisations in their regions to chalk out a calendar of activities throughout the year,” he said.
The ethos of Sikhism — hard work, simple and honest life, compassion for fellow human beings — have formed the success of the Sikh community across the globe, he said.