Sikh community celebrates 352nd birthday of Guru Gobind Singh

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: KP celebrates 352nd birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Celebrations for the 352nd birthday of Prakash Parv commenced on Friday at Gurdwara Bhai Joga Singh Mohalla Jogan Shah Qissa Khuwani Peshawar and concluded on Sunday.

The three-day event was organized by Department of Hajj, Auqaf, Religious & Minority Affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to show sign of harmony and celebrate inclusiveness. On the first day, the procession was marked by the rendering of divine hymns by Sikh community including men, women and youth.

Over 5000 Sikh devotees from across the districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took part in the procession and converge at the program who attended Akhand Path followed by Shabad Kirtan and Langar. Police personnel were deployed by the department and adequate measures were put in place to ensure full security for smooth and hassle-free celebration.

The major attraction of the procession was the display of ‘Gatka,’ a famous Sikh martial art and other famous sword exercises.

The chief guests included MPA Ravi Kumar, Wazir Zada, Ranjeet Singh and other government officials. On this occasion, MPA Ravi Kumar paid tribute to slain Soran Singh and said that his services will always be remembered. He also said that such events will build understanding of traditions and beliefs of minorities and people here have shown a sign of interfaith harmony. He also maintained that section 4 has been imposed for the land of Shamshad Ghat and Christian Graveyard. On the occasion, MPA Wazirzada said that celebration of minorities events will help spread love and peace. He maintained that the minorities are allowed to practice religion freely.  Secretary of AHRAMA Hidayat Jan stated that they have allocated budget for religious festivals of minorities of KP.

Birthday of Guru Gobind is one of the most important and major festivals of Sikh community across the world. Guru Gobind is known to Sikhs as Guru Gobind Singh Prakash, or the dawn of light, born on 5th January 1666 was the tenth Sikh Guru, a spiritual master and a philosopher.