550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak from Nov 23

Modi government has decided to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev from November 23, at national and international level to spread the message and teachings of the first of the ten Sikh gurus across the globe.

Announcing the decision on Monday, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said a number of commemorative and constructive activities will be taken up during the year- long celebration.

While the 'Gurbani,' spiritual compositions by the Sikh gurus, will be translated into all the Indian languages as well as many of those spoken in different parts of the globe, Sultanpur Lodhi, a city in Punjab where Guru Nanak spent time with his sister, will be turned into a heritage city, the Minister said.

“There is no open permit (for Indians) to visit Kartarpur Sahib (gurudwara) in Pakistan from the Indo-Pak border (in Punjab). A high-powered telescope will be installed at the Indo-Pak border (in Indian territory) to capture glimpses of the Kartarpur Sahib and show them to the devotees in India. Many in India are always eager to see Kartarpur Sahib,” Sharma said.

Kartarpur Sahib gurudwara is situated in Norowal district of Pakistani Punjab and stands only three kilometres away from the India-Pakistan border.

As part of the commemoration, Sharma said, a national institute of inter-faith studies will be set up in Punjab.

“Chairs in the name of Guru Nanak Dev will be set up in London and Canada. Commemorative coin and postage stamp will also be released,” he said.

A number of religious activities like kirtan, katha, prabhat pheri, langar and educational activities such as seminars, workshops and lectures will be organised. “We will request Doordarshan, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha and other television channels for live telecast of the programmes,” Sharma said .

Knowledge partner

Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar will be the “knowledge partner” of the government in organising various events.

Sultanpur Lodhi railway station in Punjab will be upgraded, he said.

“Museum trains will be stationed in the areas where the Sikh Guru had lived to spread his message and teachings,” he added.