Grand Vishal Diwan marks Prakash Utsav

Nampally: The most important and major festival of Sikh Community, Guru Nanak Jayanthi, which marked the 550th birth anniversary of first Sikh Guru and founder of Sikh religion also observed as 'Prakash Utsav' was celebrated at a grand scale by organising a meeting at Exhibition grounds on Tuesday.

Remembering the 'Sri Guru Nanak Devji' who spread the message of peace and communal harmony over the world, a 'Vishal Diwan' (mass congregation) was organised, where thousands of Sikh devotees and other communities celebrated the occasion it with religious fervor, gaiety and devotion by offering prayers at Exhibition grounds in Nampally on Tuesday.

Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, The MA&UD Minister KT Rama Rao along with Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav and GHMC Mayor Dr Bonthu Rammohan attended the mass congregation.

The major attraction of the concluding event was jointly organised by the Prabhandak Committees, Gurudwara Guru Singh Sabha, Afzalgunj and Gurudwara Saheb Secunderabad.To make the celebrations a grand success, for the first time, over 20,000 Sikh devotees and other communities faith participated in it and offered prayers to Guru Granth Sahib (holy scripture of Sikhs).

"The mass congregation started at 11 am continued up to 4 pm and was marked by the recitations of Gurubani Keertans and Kathas (holy hymns) by the renowned and reputed Ragi Jathas (Sikh Preachers).

Devinder Singh Singh Khalsa from Punjab, Amarjeet Singh of Patiala, Hazuri Ragi Jathas, Hari Singh, Karnail Singh, Jagdev Singh, Harwinder Singh and other reputed Ragi Jathas recited Shabad Keertans and Kathas that stressed on imbibing the higher values of life and communal harmony for which Guru Nanak Dev strived," informed the organisers.

They asked devotees to follow the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev which according to them were still relevant, these days. After the culmination of the congregation the traditional Guru-ka-langar (free community kitchen) was served to all the devotees.

Later, late in night a 'Night Keertan Darbar' was also organised at Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Afzalgunj 9 pm to 2 am in which famous Ragi Jathas recited Gurubani Keertans.