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Gurta Gaddi fete reveals secular nature of Sikh faith

NANDED (MAHARASHTRA): The secular nature of Sikh faith can be seen in the tercentenary celebrations of Gurta Gaddi, as descendants of some of the Bhagats from different religions and communities whose compositions were included in the Guru Granth Sahib are seen participating with much enthusiasm. Among the ones who have attended the celebrations so far are the descendants of Sant Namdev, Bhagat Pramanandji and Baba Sheikh Farid, the famous Sufi Saint.

Members of the Banjara and Maratha community also participated in the celebrations in large numbers. These communities continue to maintain good relationship with the Sikhs like in old days. The present heads of different sects to which the Bhagats belonged like Hazrat Khwaja Hasan Sani Nizami delivered lectures at the Samagam Sthan. He is the Gaddi Nasheen of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia and is a descendant of Baba Sheikh Farid, a 11th century Sufi Saint, over a 100 of whose slokas and shabads (hymns) form part of the Gurubani of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Guru Nanak is known to have visited Pak Pattan, the place now in Pakistan, where Baba Sheikh Farid Shakarganj was born. It is from this place that the first of the Sikh Guru is believed to have collected the hymns and slokas of the Sufi who is considered to be a Bhagat.

Baba Sheikh Farid still has a large following in the Punjab.

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