The year 2019 marks the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak Dev. Believed to have been born on a full moon day in the Hindu month of Karthik, in a village in present-day Pakistan that is today venerated as Sri Nankana Sahib, his birthday is observed as Prakash Parv and was marked on November 12 this year.

Religious activities were organised throughout India to mark the occasion. In New Delhi, on November 11, a grand nagar kirtan, or procession, wound its way from Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib to Gurdwara Nanak Piao Sahib, and several kirtan durbars (gatherings) were held at different locations on November 12.

A distinctly Sikh custom, the nagar kirtan procession was accompanied by the singing of hymns, decorative floats commemorating Sikh history, gatka sword dancers — a martial art form associated with the Sikhs of the Punjab region and the Tanoli (Pathan tribe) and Gujjar communities residing in the mountainous regions of northern Pakistan.

Lakhs of people joined in the celebrations at the many illuminated gurudwaras across the Capital, which has a significant Sikh population. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) organised Guru Ka Langar (free community meals) for four days at 50 locations across the city, including hospitals, railway stations, bus stands and slum areas. Their target was to feed around 2,00,000 people a day, especially the needy and poor. The langar spread included dal, sabzi, roti, rice, fruits and kheer, which were served during breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Shanker Chakravarty is a Delhi-based photojournalist

Photo: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

Let there be light: The Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi is all lit up for Prakash Parv

Photo: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

Staying for a bite: Special langar being served at the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara

Photo: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

A life’s work: Paintings depict events from Guru Nanak’s life at Bangla Sahib

Photo: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

March of faith: A painting on view at an exhibition in the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara depicts a religious procession taken out to mark Guru Nanak’s birthday

Photo: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

Deft moves: Young Sikhs display their martial art skills of gatka during a nagar kirtan SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

Photo: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

In honour: Marchers sing the Panj Pyaras hymn at Delhi’s Sis Ganj Sahib Gurdwara

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Historic occasion: A group of tourists joins the celebrations at Bangla Sahib
Photo: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY