Religious fervour marks Gurpurab in Punjab, Haryana

Amritsar: Fireworks at Golden Temple on the occasion of the 548th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in Amritsar on Saturday. PTI Photo

Chandigarh (PTI): Braving the early morning chill, scores of devotees on Saturday thronged ‘gurudwaras’ of Punjab and Haryana to pay obeisance to first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, on his birth anniversary.

People from different faiths offered early morning prayers on ‘Gurpurab’ and took part in ‘Langars’ and ‘Shabad Kirtans’. They also took holy baths in lakes.

The famed Golden Temple in Amritsar was lit up for Gurpurab and tight security arrangements.

Amritsar: Devotees light candles at illuminated Golden Temple on the occasion of the 548th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in Amritsar on Saturday. PTI

Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism, was born in 1469 at Nankana Sahib near Lahore, now in Pakistan.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar extended greetings to people.

“Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s universal message of love, compassion, equality, peace and brotherhood is not restricted to a particular caste, colour, creed, religion or region, but transcends the barriers of time and space, thus making it relevant till eternity,” Singh said.

Over 2,600 Sikh pilgrims had left for Pakistan to attend the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev at the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Hasanabdal town in Pakistan’s Punjab, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) officials said.