While the entire nation celebrates Gurpurab today, we got in touch with actors and spoke to them about Gurpurab and what the divine festival means to them
(Pics courtesy: Instagram/ Twitter)
The auspicious festival of Gurpurab, popularly known as Guru Nanak Jayanti, is celebrated with zest and fervor across the country. From going to ‘prabhat pheris’ early in the chilly winter morning with our grandparents, to visiting gurudwaras and eagerly waiting in line to get ‘kada prashad’, we all have our fondest childhood memories of Gurpurab celebrations that we cherish especially while ringing in the festivities. Celebrated every year on Kartik Purnima, Guru Nanak Jayanti which commemorates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev ji, the first Guru of Sikhs, the festival is all about honoring the wisdom and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Apart from that, spreading brotherhood, harmony, love and peace all around is another key aspect of Gurupurab.
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On this day, people perform sewa where they help the sangat (community of people who worship in gurudwara) and perform duties like cleaning the Gurudwara, washing dishes, serving food in the langar, etc. lighting up diyas, decorating home with lights, preparing sweets and traditional delicacies, meeting friends and loved ones, etc. are the things that add on beauty to the Gurpurab festivities.
While the entire nation celebrates Gurpurab today, we got in touch with actors and spoke to them about Gurpurab and what the divine festival means to them.
“My wife being a sikhni, we follow all the Punjabi customs diligently. Today, we all are going to go to the gurudwara and sit for the langar. I will make my children do the sewa, so that they understand the meaning of sewa and satsang,” says actor Karanvir Bohra when asked about how he celebrates Gurpurab.
Whereas, for actor and singer Himanshi Khurana, decorating home and reading Guru Granth Sahib is an important part of her Gurpurab celebrations. Khurana shares, “I decorate my house with flowers and light. I visit Gurudwara Sahib and I pay respect to our Guru Maharaj ji and do paath and perform kirtan. Later, I sit along with my whole family and we sing Shabad to seek Waheguru’s blessings.”
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The 'Kachha Badam' sensation, Anjali Arora, who was last seen in the first season of reality show, ‘LockUpp’, tells how she along with her family celebrates the holy festival. “My family sings hymns and we do the ‘Aad Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Da Sahaj’ path. My mother prepares delicious food which we eat with all our guests. Also, we put up shabbil on the roadside and distribute rose milk amongst people,” asserts Anjali.
“I celebrate this beautiful festival by visiting gurudwara every year. I pray to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, praise him and seek his blessings,” says ‘Aladdin’ actor, Vikas Grover. He further adds, "On every Gurpurab, since childhood, I perform sewa and distribute juice and chocolates to the underprivileged kids.”
When asked Khurana about her fondest memory of Gurpurab, the ‘Gallan Bholiyan’ singer recalls, “I remember my father used to take me to the Gurudwara Sahib and we use to get engaged in the devotion of Guru through kirtans in gurudwara.”
“On the evening of Gurpurab, I used to visit gurudwaras and there we used to sing in kirtans and have langar with the whole family. It was an amazing feeling to be engaged in such a beautiful atmosphere,” says Arora while walking down the memory lane.
Vikas still vividly remembers his fondest memory of visiting the Golden Temple as a teen on the day of Gurpurab. “I was 15-years-old and on the day of Gurpurab, I visited Golden Temple with my family. And it was such an amazing experience, I loved the vibe, I did sewa there and I took bath in the holy Sarovar. It was just surreal!”
When we asked Khurana about, what according to her, was the essence of Gurpurab, to which she replied, “Peace and harmony all over, people chanting and doing kirtans at their houses and the aroma of kada parshad and langar being prepared, people engaged in the devotion of our first Guru Maharaj, etc.… it’s a whole different and fresh vibe altogether I love to be a part of.”
“We see so many people doing the sewa, they come to seek blessings and listen to satsang… It’s really amazing to watch people doing sewa on Gurpurab, it’s just beautiful!,” expresses Bohra.
On the same note, Grover says, “The essence of Gurpurab is living a life in truth and showing respect to others.”
Arora, on the other hand, feels tasty food and taking Baba ji’s blessings is the true essence of Gurpurab she says, “Seeking Guruji’s aashirwaad which he showers on his beloved devotees, kirtans and tasty food makes Gurpurab more auspicious.”
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“One wish that I would like to make to Guru Nank Ji on this Gurpurab is that give everybody ‘saddbuddhi’ and make everybody responsible for their actions. Make everyone responsible for mother earth,” says Karanvir while talking about a wish he would like to make to Guru Nanak ji on this Gurpurab. Expressing his deep concern about nature and environment, he further goes on to say, “We have to keep our surroundings clean. Agar hum humari taraf se koshish karenge iss dharti ko saaf karne ki, toh Guru humse kitna khush honge! Just imagine.”
“I wish that my family and people all over the world celebrating Gurpurab are showered with the divine blessings of Guru Nanak ji,” expresses Khurana.
On the same note, Arora says, “May the holy teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji enlighten us and help us attain whatever we wish for.”
Whereas Vikas wants to become successful in his professional life, he says, “Give me and my family a healthy and happy life, moreover, and give me a lot of work!”