The 554th Prakash Utsav (Guruparv) of the founder and World Guru of Sikhism, Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj was celebrated with traditional gaiety, religious fervour and enthusiasm at Gurubagh Gurdwara on Monday. On the occasion, the gurdwara was decorated in a grand manner. Heavy rush of Sikh families was seen at the gurdwara throughout the day.
During the day, the programme began in the wee hours with Shahana Sangat which was followed by showering flowers, Naam Simran, Path Sukhmani Sahib, Asa Di Vaar Kirtan etc. From 9 am, the students of Guru Nanak English School (Shivpur), Guru Nanak Khalsa Girls Inter College and Guru Nanak English Medium School (Gurubagh) presented shabad kirtans and then Bhai Ranjit Singh, the chief granthi of the gurdwara, delivered discourses followed by presentation of shabad kirtans. Later, in the afternoon langar was held.
In the evening, the Deepotsav was held at Gurdwara in Nichchi Bagh. At Gurudwara in Guru Bagh, the programme started around 7.30 pm which continued till midnight hours. At the end of the Path Sahib, ardas as well as the langar of the Guru was served.
The city is important for the Sikhism like the Hinduism and Buddhism because in 1563 Vikram Samvat, Guru Nanak Dev, the first Guru of Sikhs, had arrived in the city along with some of his followers and stayed here for almost one month and during the period he also delivered religious discourses. Gurubagh Gurdwara is the same place where Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj had delivered his discourses. Varanasi is also the place where the ninth and tenth Gurus of the Sikhs had passed some days.
The tenth and last Guru of Sikhs, Guru Govind Singh stayed sometime during his childhood along with his father at Nichibag where presently a gurdwara is also located. Some of the articles used by Guru Govind Singh and his father are still preserved at this Gurdwara.