Guru Nanak Jayanti: Let's Celebrate it in its True Essence

Guru Nanak was the first guru of the Sikhs. Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Guru Parab is celebrated on the full moon day of Kartika. It is all about celebrating the birth anniversary of a great saint like Guru Nanak, who will always be remembered as one of the greatest social reformers, preachers and saints. Although, I am not a Sikh, I always eagerly wait for this sacred festival. This is because, I simply love the prasad and food which are distributed through free lungers, all across the country, and even abroad. There are pandals at different places to organize free lungers and distribute prasad. Visiting a Gurudwara on this auspicious occasion is also very exciting. But, of late, I have started realizing that there is more to this festival than just eating at free lungers.

Guru Nanak taught mankind non-violence, love and unity. Are we following it? I don't think so. Today, there are communal riots, regionalism and hatred everywhere in India. On one hand, there are some politically motivated groups who are destroying church and humiliating nuns. On the other hand, in Maharashtra, a handful of people are on roads protesting against the North Indians, who have gone their to earn their bread. Is this a country that Guru Nanak dreamt of? Whether you are a Sikh or not, you need to think deeply about all that Guru Nanak has taught us. He was a saint who tried to bring harmony among all religions. Not only this, he traveled to different places all over India and preached humanity, unity, and also liberalized many social practices for the betterment of common people. In spite of all this, today he is only remembered on his birthday. His teachings have not found a place in our day to day life. This is reason why we are witnessing so much of hatred, violence and greediness for power in today's time.

According to me, today, on this auspicious occasion, we should take a pledge to follow what Guru Nanak taught us. We should live with peace and love. We should respect one another and try to make the world a better place to live. This would be the celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti in its true essence.