New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on the occasion of Parkash Purab of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
on Monday.
“I bow to Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji on his Parkash Purab. May his thoughts keep motivating us to serve society and ensure a better planet,”
the Prime Minister tweeted.
Conveying his best wishes to people on Guru Nanak Jayanti the Prime Minister in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme on Sunday expressed gratitude to Sikh community all over the world for continuing the tradition of feeding people during the period of Corona pandemic and said it was Guru Nanak Dev ji who had started the tradition of Langar.”This tradition always keeps inspiring us. I wish we all keep working as a Sevak. May Guru Sahib keep taking services from me and countrymen in the same manner. Once again, many best wishes on Guru Nanak Jayanti,” he said.He said the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor in November last year was ‘historic’ and he would cherish this lifelong in his heart. “It is the good fortune of all of us that we got the opportunity to serve Shri Darbaar Sahib once more,” the Prime Minister said.He said it had now become easier for Sikhs abroad to send contributions in the service of Darbar Sahib. With this step, the Sangat, the followers all over the world, had come closer to Darbar Sahib.Pointing out that the 551st Prakash Parv, birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji, would be celebrated world over, the influence of Guru Nanak Dev ji was distinctly visible.”From Vancouver to Wellington, from Singapore to South Africa his messages are heard all around. It is mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib ?”sevak ko seva bun aayee”, that is the work of a sevak, a servant is to serve,” he said.During the past few years at many important junctures he had served as a Sevak. “Guru Sahib awarded us the opportunity to serve. 550th Prakash Parva of Guru Nanak Dev ji, 350th Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Govind Singh ji, next year we will have 400th Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Teg Bahadur ji too. I feel that I have been specially blessed by Guru Sahib that he has associated me very closely with his work,” he said.The Prime Minister said that at Lakhpat Gurudwara Sahib in Kutch, Shri Guru Nanak ji had stayed during his Udaasi, his spiritual travels. In the 2001 earthquake, this Gurudwara too got damaged and he was was able to ensure its restoration. Not only was the renovation done, its glory and grandeur were restored too. The restoration efforts of Lakhpat Gurudwara were given the Award of Distinction by the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award in 2004.The jury that gave away the award found that during the restoration, the fine details of the art and architecture were given special care. The jury also noted that in the restoration of the Gurudwara not only did the Sikh community participate actively; it was done under their guidance too.”I had the good fortune of visiting Lakhpat Gurudwara when I was not even the Chief Minister. I used to feel immensely energized being there. Everyone feels blessed on visiting this Gurudwara. I feel very grateful that Guru Sahib has granted me the opportunity to serve regularly.”