Guru Nanak's birthday
Description:
Guru Nanak was born in Talvandi near the city of Lahore (now in Pakistan) in 1469. Nanak’s views were influenced by the Hindu reformist teachings of bhakti and Sufism (a mystic-ascetic trend in Islam) and reflected the protest of urban craftsmen against the caste system and feudal oppression. Nanak strongly opposed caste enmity, caste discrimination, and the complex religious ritual of Hindus, as well as the bigotry and intolerance of Muslim rulers. The basis of his teaching was the non-recognition of the division of people into castes and the preaching of their equality before God, which immediately attracted the peasants to a new doctrine and turned Sikhism into a powerful force. Nanak affirms the idea of the existence of one God, recognizes the Hindu doctrine of the transmigration of souls, but condemns idolatry. Therefore, in Sikh temples there are no sculptural images of people or gods. However, unlike Islam, Sikhism allows both deities and people to be painted for decorative purposes.
The main center associated with the memory of Nanak is the small town of Dera Baba Nanak, located 56 km north of Amritsar, on the border with Pakistan. Guru Nanak lived here, preached his teachings and died in 1539. The local Gurudwara (Sikh temple) is an object of pilgrimage for Sikhs arriving here on Nanak’s birthday.
Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrations begin with a three-day ceremony of “Akhand Path” (reading from beginning to end without interruption the holy book of the Sikhs “Granth Sahib”). On the third day (birthday), the “Granth Sahib” is carried on a procession through the streets of the city on a large platform. Five armed guards leading the procession carry the Sikh flag. The women accompanying the procession sing hymns from the Granth Sahib. Students march in small groups. The procession ends at the gurudwara, where a joint meal is organized.