Hundreds of devotees gathered at the Gurudwara Sadh Sangat in Seethammadhara to mark the 542{+n}{+d} birth anniversary of the first Sikh guru Guru Nanak Dev here on Sunday.
Mass congregation
The mass congregation was marked by the recitation of kirtans and kathas. A 48-hour non-stop ‘akhandpath' of the holy book Guru Granth Sahib was done before the actual celebrations started.
Women, charming and graceful with their long lustrous hair tied back and heads covered with duppattas, along with their family, were all ears to the ‘katha' and ‘kirtan', which preached equality among all human beings and protection of the religion at all costs.
Then followed ‘Langar' (community kitchen), in which the Sikhs, regardless of the rich and the poor, partook in the food prepared by their community members.
Delicacies
The devotees served the delicious items at the free lunch. Families gathered here from the early hours of the day for the preparations. Men became expert cooks as they whole-heartedly participated in the kitchen. Giggling young girls and boys gave a helping hand to the elders by dapping the rotis with ghee.
‘Langar' had the unmistakable stamp of equality and brotherhood as people from all castes and creeds sat together to enjoy the sumptuous meal.
Devotees took out processions - ‘prabhat pheris' - in the past few days in the streets across the city.
Prayers were offered and crackers burst to mark the conclusion of the day's celebrations. In the evening, the Sikhs of the city converged at the Gurudwara and shared the joy of the celebrations.
