The Hindu : Karnataka / Bidar News : Guru Nanak's birth anniversary celebrated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 28, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bidar

Guru Nanak's birth anniversary celebrated

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIDAR, NOV. 27. The 535th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak was celebrated with enthusiasm at the Gurudwara Guru Nanak Jhira here on Friday.

Devotees from Punjab, Haryana, and Mumbai had gathered in the city three days ahead of the celebrations.

Many senior officials and businessmen stayed on the Gurudwara premises.

They also offered various kinds of services such as keeping watch on the Amrit Kund pond, issuing head scarves and cleaning the floor.

Religious ceremonies

The city was decorated with lights and colourful banners and buntings.

Religious ceremonies started early on Friday.

The number of devotees pouring into the city increased steadily.

The functions concluded with a procession through the main streets of the city.

Bhajans and kirtans were sung throughout the day.

Highlight

The highlight of the celebrations was, however, the "halla bol," the enactment of the attack of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's forces on their enemies.

This includes the youth demonstrating their martial skills and mastery over various weapons.

Bidar has a significant place in the history of the religion.

Legend has it that Bidar was part of Guru Nanak's southern sojourns undertaken in the 16th Century.

The saint is believed to have solved the drinking water problem of the city by creating a spring on a hillock.

The Gurudwara now stands at the bottom of the hillock.

Bidar's contribution

Sikhism gained so much popularity in Bidar that Saibanna, a farmer from old Bidar, arrived in Punjab on Baisakhi day, responding to a call by Guru Govind Singh.

He participated in the legendary Baisakhi meeting convened by the saint and was one of the five who volunteered to be sacrificed for the cause of the religion.

They were, however, crowned as the "Panch Pyare," the beloved men of valour.

The "Panch Pyare" headed the Guru's army and defended the religion and its believers.

`Panch Pyare'

Chanting the names of the "Panch Pyare" is believed to instil confidence and courage, ardent believers said.

They are remembered before performing religious rituals and in times of crisis.

The president of the Sri Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee Balbir Singh and other prominent leaders of the community were present on the occasion of the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak.

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