Marking the 545 anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the Sikh Gurus, which falls on the full moon day of the ‘Karthika’ month, the community took out ‘nagar kirtan’ here on Sunday afternoon.
With most of them following a dress code — white and blue or white and orange — hundreds of Sikhs of all age groups turned up to celebrate. After offering the initial prayers, the procession was flagged off at Gurudwara Sadh Sangat.
The ‘nagar kirtan’ then headed to Dwarakanagar, RTC Complex, Beach Road, Siripuram, and then back to Gurudwara.
Children were also seen in their parents’ lap while commuting on trucks.
One of the trucks was dedicated for Guru Granth Sahib, where a few Granthis treated the devout to bhajans.
“Every year, before the birth anniversary celebrations of our first Guru, we take part in the procession on a Sunday. This time, we are praying for those who were affected by the Huhud cyclone and for those who worked hard to rebuild Vizag,” says Jaspal Singh, who works in communication industry. The Sikhs recalled how the city came back to its shape within 10 days of the calamity.
Guru Nanak Devji carried the message of brotherhood and strived hard to eradicate superstition among people.
“Every year, we make sure to take part in the procession as it is an opportunity for us to create awareness among people on our first Guru and his significant contributions,” says Manisha Minhas, a professional, who was part of the massive procession.
Stalls were also kept at a few points to provide refreshments and snacks to those who took part in the ‘nagar kirtan’.
