550th Celebrations of the birth of Guru Nanak

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Former Indian PM Dr Manmohan Singh, Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore and CM Amarinder Singh lay the foundation stone of 26 projects at Sultanpur Lodhi on Friday, 23-Nov-2018. Tribune Photo: Malkiat Singh

In November 2019, the whole world will be celebrating the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. In Punjab, India, on Friday, 23 November 2018, the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh launched a year-long preparations for the celebrations of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism which will be taking place in November 2019. He called upon people to set aside their religious and political differences to join his government in making it a memorable event. Addressing a large gathering in Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district, where Nanak Dev spent over 14 years of his early life, the Captain exhorted the people to reconnect with his teachings, principles and ideals.

The Captain thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government for acceding to various requests of the state government with regard to the celebrations. He hailed the Centre’s decision to develop the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from Punjab’s Gurdaspur district to the International Border to facilitate Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur in Pakistan. He said a long-pending demand of Punjab was on the verge of fulfilment and on November 26, he would join the President to lay the foundation stone of the corridor.

He also thanked the Government of Pakistan for reciprocating on the issue and said his government would also contribute, as may be required, to ensure timely completion of the project. Addressing the gathering, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed gratitude to Amarinder Singh and his government for giving him the opportunity to be part of this special moment. He expressed hope that all would rise above petty considerations of communalism and hatred to celebrate the event in a befitting manner.

The former prime minister exhorted the people to participate in the year-long celebrations with full enthusiasm and gaiety, regardless of caste, colour, creed and religion. Governor Badnore said it was a matter of pride for him to be part of the auspicious occasion. He called for universal brotherhood as the key message of the commemorative events.

Former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev, who was also present, presented a book, ‘We the Sikhs around the world’, relating to 100 gurdwaras across the globe, to Manmohan Singh, Badnore and Capt Amarinder. Earlier, Manmohan Singh, along with his wife Gursharan Kaur, Badnore and Capt Amarinder paid obeisance at the historic Gurdwara Ber Sahib here. Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal also paid obeisance at Gurdwara Ber Sahib.

Pakistan also announces wide arrangement for the celebration of Gurpurab

Around 100,000 Sikhs from Canada, US, Malaysia and other countries also want to visit Pakistan. Photo:tribune.com.pk

In Lahore, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) decided this year to grant visas to 10,000 Sikhs from India to participate in the 550th birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak. Pakistani officials have given a green signal to Shiromani committee, the largest representatives of Sikhs, and other small groups to take part in the celebrations. After mutual consultation, the two bodies decided that the number of pilgrims, in accordance with the 1974 Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, will be increased from 3,000 to 10,000. Further, there will be no restrictions on the number of Sikhs coming to Pakistan from other countries.

Pakistan will issue visas to the Shiromani community and other groups, according to the quota. All such groups will provide a list of pilgrims to EPTB; no other individual apart from these will be granted a visa. Approximately 100,000 Sikhs want to visit Pakistan from India, Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia and several other countries. However, making preparations for and ensuring the security of all attendees on such a large scale is not possible, said an EPTB senior official while speaking to Express News. However, the final decision on the matter rests with the government and the federal interior ministry.

Although Guru Nanak’s 550th birthday is in November later this year according to the Roman calendar, the Sikh community will celebrate the occasion according to the Nanak Shahi calendar in November 2019. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf has already announced plans to issue a memorable coin commemorating the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

Indian Government makes announcement

Indian External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj makes announcement

The year 2019 will mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru and the founder of the faith. And in preparation of the mammoth occasion, the Indian government has already kick-started the preparations for the celebrations, which will stretch across the globe for over a year, informed External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj.

.@SushmaSwaraj ji started the celebrations of 550th Birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji in Delhi & announced that Indian Govt. through Indian Council for Cultural Relations will celebrate 550th Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji worldwide through its missions abroad.@BJP4India pic.twitter.com/5zudas8puK
[— RP Singh (@rpsinghkhalsa) August 12, 2018]

The minister also said that all Indian missions and embassies abroad will celebrate Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary through seminars and ‘kirtans’ (hymn recitals) to spread Guru Nanak’s message of universal brotherhood and peace in these “turbulent” times. "In this turbulent world, where violence and killings are prevalent, where people are being massacred in the name of religion, through this anniversary celebration, we want to spread the message of Guru Nanak and other Sikh Gurus in the world,” said Mrs Swaraj.

The World Punjabi Organisation- an international body of Punjabis comprising representatives from various fields have been called in to partner with the government to carry through the year-long celebrations. The External Affairs Ministry has also declared that the birth anniversary of the spiritual thinker and arguably one of the greatest religious innovators of all times will be celebrated as the ‘Universal Brotherhood Year!’


Celebration of 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev as 'Universal Brotherhood Year! EAM @SushmaSwaraj was the Chief Guest at the Gurbani Kirtan organized by @iccrdelhi together with World Punjabi Organisation. Spoke on relevance of Guru Nanak's message in today's world. pic.twitter.com/J7uld8hhyD
[— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) August 12, 2018]

Meanwhile, in the northern state of Punjab, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has set-up three panels to oversee arrangements for the celebrations which will be responsible for the development of infrastructure at holy places and supervising the religious and cultural events.


Reviewed preparations for celebration of 550th Anniversary of the Prakash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Have issued directions to all departments to take up infrastructure developments works on priority in Sultanpur Lodhi. pic.twitter.com/uiGpBLiF5s
[— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) August 21, 2018]

Earlier, Mr Singh had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking approx. 4 billion in financial assistance for the celebrations.

Also See

Events relating to Guru Nanak

ӝ Guru's Birth ӝ At School ӝ In Baghdad ӝ The Sacred Thread ӝ reject the Janoy ӝ And Duni Chand ӝ In Tibet ӝ Tibet Quotes ӝ Udasis ӝ First Udasi ӝ Second Udasi ӝ Third Udasi ӝ Fourth Udasi ӝ Fifth Udasi ӝ In Nepal ӝ and Moola ӝ and Hot Spring ӝ and two students ӝ Sakhis ӝ In Mecca ӝ Grazing Buffaloes ӝ and Wali Qandhari ӝ Walli Kandhari ӝ in Istanbul ӝ mysteries ӝ Guru Nanak ӝ History ӝ Japji Sahib ӝ Philosophy ӝ reject the Janoy ӝ Guru's Birth ӝ no Hindu, no Musalman ӝ

Sakhis of Guru Nanak
Bhai Lalo's honesty Darshan The Guru always blesses all Durga worshipper from Khadur Sahib
Dukh Sukh Duni Chand Establishment of Kartarpur Nanak in Sikkim,Ladakh & Tibet
First Udasi Second Udasi Third Udasi The Udasis of Guru Nanak
Fourth Udasi Fifth Udasi Guru Ji's Sickness Guru Nanak and the Vaishno ascetic
Guru Nanak Grazing Buffaloes Guru Nanak and Duni Chand Guru Nanak and Moola Sacha Souda
Guru Nanak and the Sacred Thread Guru Nanak and two students Guru Nanak at Hassan Abdal Sajan the Robber
Guru Nanak at School Guru Nanak at Shikarpur Guru Nanak in Baghdad The Birth of the Guru
Guru Nanak in Mecca Guru Nanak in Nepal Mian Mitha The Two Villages
Guru Nanak in Tibet Guru Nanak in Tibet Quotes Guru Nanak's history Guru Nanak & The Doctor
Iron Clad Soldiers One God for the rich and... Janam Sakhis There is no Hindu and no Musalman
Janamsakhis Kauda the cannibal Mardana and the ants Three Days in the River
Mardana and the stone Mardana gives away clothes and food Watering the Crops Village of Children
Guru Nanak and the Brahman Guru Nanak and the Pandit Guru Nanak and the Millionaire Guru Nanak and Sheikh Brahm
Guru Nanak & the dried up river Bhai Bhoomiya Bhai Mardana Ji And Charity Bhai Sayt And Guru Nanak Dev
Daulat Khan Sakhis of Guru Nanak Stories of Guru Nanak Sakhis
Baba Wali Kandhari Durga worshipper from Khadur Sahib Guru Nanak In Syria Guru Nanak in Turkey
Hamza Gaus Heals the Physician How many Sikhs did Guru Nanak have? Raja Shivnabh And Guru Nanak Dev
Sheikh Brahm Mata Sulakhni
Relatives of Shri Guru Nanak Dev guru nanak

Grandparents: ✝ Mata BanarasiBaba Shiv Ram ✝ Grandparents (Maternal):✝ Mata BhiraiBaba Rama
Parents: ✝ Kalyan DasMata Tripta ✝ Uncle: ✝ Baba Lalu ✝ In-Laws: ✝ Baba Mool ChandMata Chando Rani
Wife: ✝ Bibi Sulakhni ✝ Siblings: ✝ Bibi Nanaki ✝ Brother-in-law: ✝ Bhai Jai Ram
Children: ✝ Baba Sri ChandBaba Lakhmi Das

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