A few days back, I woke up early to finish off some pending assignments. I could feel all 50+ kgs of myself when I had to drag myself out of the bed and slow-walk to the living room, trying excessively hard to keep my droopy eyes open. The struggle was on when I heard a group of people singing hymns. The group had an energetic pace and quickly walked by my house, leaving me awake and awed. Later in the day, I noticed the decorations leading up to the Gurudwara in the society and realised that I was fortunate enough to witness the Prabhat Pheri that day.

Wahe Guru!

Guru Purab, 2019

This year’s Guru Purab is even more special as it falls on 550th birthday of Guru Nanak Dev. I don’t think I would be able to capture anything worthwhile…with whatever I write about Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Arjan Singh & Guru Tegh Bahadur. So, I won’t even try.

I was born in late 80s and hence grew up in a multi-faith community. As a child, I waited earnestly for prasad that led to picking up rituals that interested the child-me & became the second nature of the adult-me. On this Guru Purab, if I can do one thing, I would like to develop one new habit, or develop a new belief, from the ever-so-true:

ik-onkaar

sat naam

kartaa purakh

nirbha-o nirvair

akaal moorat ajoonee saibhaN

gur parsaad.
meaning One Universal Creator God. The Name Is Truth. Creative Being Personified. No Fear. No Hatred. Image Of The Undying, Beyond Birth, Self-Existent. By Guru’s Grace

Har Mandir Sahib, Amritsar

I had the good luck of visiting Amritsar twice and offering prayers to Golden temple both the times. Other than the Gold-like Sunshine, divine air of the Gurudwara, and hordes of followers vying for darshan, there’s something inexplicable about the Golden Temple that makes you feel small yet powerful, insignificant yet valuable, unworthy yet loved – and that feeling sparks joy that comes out as tears from your eyes. With those burning tears, much of your negativity washes away too, and you come out as new as a just born baby.

Also read: Golden Temple of God

Pathar Sahib, Leh Ladakh

There are folk tales about this gurudwara and while those remain tales, what’s true is – that Guru Nanak Dev stayed here for a while, and years later, you could still feel the godly energy here.

Unlike Bangla Sahib & Har Mandir Sahib, Pather Sahib’s entrance is a narrow hallway, perched at 12,000 ft above the sea level. At the entry gate, you would see Indian Army Jawans, in humble postures. A few steps straight, and you will reach the sanctum sanctorum in no time. When I visited, there wasn’t a huge queue and thus I spent some time inside with my head down and eyes closed.

Funny thing that whenever I am inside the Gurudwaras or before the gigantic idols of Maa Durga, or inside the temple premises, I usually forget what I want from gods. In that very moment of peace, I often close my eyes and breathe in the holy air. And when I do that, I never need anything else.

Also read: Pushkar Diaries